PRIME MINISTER

Euro

Michael Weir: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 624W, on the euro, whether the results of a future referendum on UK membership of the euro will be broken down and available by each nation and region of the UK.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

International Criminal Court

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of 11 December to the hon. Member for Linlithgow in relation to the letter from the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, what encouragement Her Majesty's Government have given the US Government to ratify the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Tony Blair: The issue has been discussed bilaterally with Secretary of State Powell as well as with officials in the US Administration. The EU, as part of its Common Policy towards the ICC, has expressed concern at the proposed introduction of legal measures which might in any way impede or delay the USA's ultimate ratification of the Rome Statute or future relations with the Court.

Honours

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Prime Minister in what circumstances he would recommend the removal of the honour of OBE; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Holders of honours who have committed offences which bring the honours system into disrepute may be considered for forfeiture. It is Government policy not to discuss individual cases.

Missile Defence

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the President of the United States concerning missile defence; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I last discussed missile defence with President Bush in early December.
	We share US concerns about the threats stemming from the proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction and understand the role that missile defences can play as part of a comprehensive strategy to tackle these threats. I welcome the commitment of both Russia and the US to continue discussions on a new strategic framework including issues related to missile defence.

Members' Communications

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what rules govern the approval of monitoring of communications of hon. Members.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 367W.

Renewable Energy

Simon Thomas: To ask the Prime Minister what the impact of the Performance and Innovation Unit's review of energy needs will be on renewable energy generation.

Tony Blair: The PIU energy review will make recommendations on a range of issues and will be published in due course.

Max Mosley

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister on what dates he has (a) met, (b) spoken by telephone to and (c) written to the President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile; and if he will place a copy of the notes of such communications in the Library.

Tony Blair: I have contact and meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.

House of Lords Appointments Commission

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

Tony Blair: The Appointments Commission brought new standards of transparency, professionalism and rigour into the selection of independent peers. The Commission has, as required, published criteria for appointing peers on the basis that individuals should have a record of outstanding achievement, political independence, integrity and the ability to contribute to the House.
	The 15 new independent peers were appointed because they have skills and qualities that will benefit the legislative scrutiny and revising work of the second Chamber. They included a world authority on palliative care, an expert on youth and social exclusion, a top British businessman and a leading educationist. Their expertise is already contributing to debates in the House.
	As my hon. Friend knows, the White Paper on Lords Reform published last year proposes a statutory Appointments Commission to appoint independent members and to continue an open and transparent process of appointing independent members to the House of Lords. In the meantime the Appointments Commission will continue its role.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Emergencies

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office how his Department co-ordinates with other Government Departments in planning for civil emergencies.

Christopher Leslie: The Cabinet Office is responsible for co-ordinating departmental strategies for civil contingencies across Government, and is conducting a review of emergency planning at present.

Regional Governance

Joyce Quin: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what recent discussions he has had with (a) regional development agencies and (b) regional authorities and chambers about his Department's responsibilities for regional governance in England.

John Prescott: Over the past few months, my ministerial colleagues and I have met a wide range of regional leaders, including representatives of regional development agencies, regional chambers, local authorities and other stakeholders across England to discuss regional governance. As we prepare the White Paper we have been encouraging a wider public debate on the issues. Ministers are actively encouraging views from all concerned.

Regional Governance

Win Griffiths: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office when he last met Ministers of the devolved institutions to discuss issues relevant to regional government in England.

John Prescott: I reported on progress on our White Paper on English regional governance to the annual plenary meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on 30 October 2001. The devolved Administrations expressed their support for extending the benefits of devolution where there was a regional demand for it, and offered to assist the process based on their own experience of devolution to date.
	The territorial Secretaries of State are members of the Committee on the Nations and Regions which has been meeting regularly under my chairmanship to oversee the development of the White Paper.

Regional Governance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what plans he has to change the function of Government offices in the regions.

John Prescott: We are continuing to develop the role of the Government Offices so that they can operate across the full range of Departments whose policies and programmes have a local or regional impact.

Regional Governance

Michael Fallon: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office how many of the Government offices of the regions the Deputy Prime Minister has visited since June.

John Prescott: Since June, I have visited three Government offices. My hon. Friend the Minister of State Cabinet Office has visited five Government offices.

Special Advisers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what his policy is on setting a maximum limit to the number of special advisers employed by Government Departments.

John Prescott: The rules on the appointment of special advisers are set in the Ministerial Code. In addition, in response to reports from the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the Public Administration Select Committee, the Government have committed themselves to a limit on the number of special advisers which will form part of the package of Civil Service legislation.

Regulations

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what steps are being taken to ensure that assessments of the impact of regulations are consistent between Government Departments.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are determined that regulations should not be introduced unless they are necessary and the benefits justify the costs.
	In accordance with this, all regulatory proposals likely to have a significant cost to business, charities and the voluntary sector require a Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Rural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and others on the co-ordination of rural policy.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office gave on 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 898W.

Staff Dispersal

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what measures he is taking to encourage the dispersal of civil servants and Ministries from London to the regions.

Christopher Leslie: The existing dispersal of many civil service functions across the UK has worked well, and the Government believe that the administration of public service benefits from this national and regional diversity. The Government will continue to consider this matter.

Climate Change

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what the role of his office is with regard to (a) climate change and (b) international climate change discussions.

John Prescott: I continue to play a role on international climate change discussions and negotiations on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. I work to foster effective relationships internationally at the highest political level. The UK's negotiating positions for international negotiations on climate change are agreed through the Cabinet Committee on the Environment, which I chair. The lead Department for climate change is DEFRA, which retains policy responsibility for international negotiations and implementation of the UK's policies. My office works closely with them and with other Departments with a key interest on strategic and cross-departmental issues.

Climate Change

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office if he will set out the part his Department has played in co-ordinating Government work on climate change in the last month.

John Prescott: During the last month the Cabinet Office has continued to work with other Government Departments—including DEFRA which has lead responsibility for climate change—in furthering Government policy on climate change.
	The Cabinet Office has provided support to me as I continue to pursue international agreement on climate change on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Regeneration

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office if he will second an official from the Cabinet Office to the North Staffordshire Partnership to assist in the regeneration of the region.

Barbara Roche: I am pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that at the present time there are three Cabinet Office secondees working on regeneration issues with the North Staffordshire Partnership.

Social Exclusion

Brian White: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office if he will list the projects being undertaken by the social exclusion unit.

Barbara Roche: The unit is currently working on four projects, looking at: re-offending by ex-prisoners; young runaways; educational attainment of children in care; and transport and social exclusion.

Government Office for Yorkshire and Humberside

Meg Munn: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what recent meetings his Ministers have had with the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humberside.

John Prescott: I last met the Regional Director of the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber on 27 June. My hon. Friend the Minister of State Cabinet Office met various staff of the Government Office on 4 December.

Relocation

Adam Price: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the scope to relocate Executive functions of (a) Government Departments and (b) public agencies to the nations and regions of the UK.

John Prescott: No such assessment has been made.
	Individual Government Departments and agencies are free to make their own decisions about location and facilities on the basis of operational requirements and value for money.

Internet

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the work of the e-envoy in expanding the use of the internet among the population.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the e-envoy is committed to the goal of ensuring that everyone in the UK who wants it may have access to the internet by 2005.
	Progress towards meeting this target is detailed in Section 3 of the recently published UK online annual report.

Government Car Service

Richard Burden: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the annual report of the Government Car Service.

Christopher Leslie: The Annual Report and Accounts of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, of which the Government Car Service is a part, were seen and approved by me before publication in the House on 17 July 2001. Furthermore, the agency's financial statements contained in that report were subject to an audit by the National Audit Office and no observations were made.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister of State for Cabinet Office what role his Department is playing in promoting neighbourhood renewal in the most disadvantaged communities.

Barbara Roche: The Cabinet Office plays a full role in work across Government to deliver the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.
	Both the Social Exclusion Unit and the Regional Co-ordination Unit support the work of other Government Departments to deliver sustainable improvements in the most disadvantaged areas, and of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in co-ordinating and leading strategy centrally.
	The nine Government Offices for the Regions have particular responsibility for neighbourhood renewal at regional level, supporting local strategies, administering funds and reporting on local activity.

DEFENCE

Naval Vessels

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature, time scale and cost of repairing the defect which was discovered on HMS Sceptre, HMS Sovereign and HMS Superb.

Adam Ingram: Indications of small original fabrication imperfections discovered during routine ultrasonic inspection of the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) in HMS Sceptre identified the need for more detailed analysis to support the existing safety case for reactor plant operation. Inspection of Sceptre will be undertaken as part of her refit at Rosyth Dockyard. While imperfections have not been identified in either Sovereign or Superb, they have similar Reactor Pressure Vessel design. An acceptable safety case was produced for Superb and she has now returned to operations, pending further inspection later this year. Precautionary inspection of Sovereign is now taking place during her on-going maintenance at Clyde Submarine Base. The time scale and cost of work to return Sceptre and Sovereign to operations is subject to acceptable inspection results and the complexity of the associated safety case, so cannot be provided with accuracy at this stage.

British Forces (Deployment)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are serving overseas and in which countries; and what proportion of United Kingdom military forces are (a) overseas and (b) in the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: The following table shows the number of UK regular forces serving overseas as at 1 November 2001 broken down by service.
	
		
			 Location/proportion Naval Service Army RAF Grand total 
		
		
			 Grand total 41,840 109,775 53,211 204,826 
			  
			 United Kingdom (84 per cent.) 35,317 77,682 47,535 160,543 
			 Overseas total (16 per cent.) 6,523 32,093 5,676 44,292 
			 Overseas split by location: 
			 Continental Europe 3,069 15,465 1,801 20,335 
			 Cyprus 6 2,460 1,094 3,560 
			 Gibraltar 223 65 112 400 
			 Other Mediterranean, Near East and Gulf 1,514 5,921 1,369 8,804 
			 Far East 15 243 20 278 
			 Other locations 1,696 7,939 1,280 10,915 
		
	
	Source:
	DASA (Tri-Service)

Hearing Loss (Compensation)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many retired members of the armed forces have claimed compensation for service-related Noise Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss since 1990; how many claims were accepted; how many claimants appealed to the pensions appeal tribunals; and how many claims were rejected.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not available in relation to War Pension claims for disablement arising from Noise Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Hearing Loss (Compensation)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims by retired members of the armed forces for compensation for service-related noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss since 1990 were disallowed for the reason that (a) hearing loss at the time of claiming was less than 50 dB averaged over one, two and three kHz, (b) hearing loss at the time of leaving the armed forces was less than 50 dB averaged over one, two and three Khz, (c) hearing loss exceeding 50 dB after leaving the service but at the time of leaving the armed forces the hearing loss was less than 50 dB averaged over one, two and three kHz, (d) hearing loss exceeding 50 dB averaged over one, two and three kHz after leaving the service but there was no evidence of hearing loss at the time of leaving and (e) claims were made more than seven years after leaving the armed forces.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested in items (a) to (d) is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Claims to war disablement pensions are not disallowed if lodged more than seven years after leaving the armed forces. There are no time limits for claiming.

Missile Defence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made since 11 September on the potential value of national missile defence for the United Kingdom.

Geoff Hoon: The position remains unchanged. We understand the potential role missile defence can play as one element of a comprehensive strategy to tackle a ballistic missile threat. What the events of 11 September show is that there are those who will seek to threaten with whatever means are available the US, its friends and allies.

Missile Defence

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations he is giving to the development of a ballistic missile defence system for the UK.

Geoff Hoon: We continue to assess the threat posed by ballistic missiles. We also continue to assess ballistic missile defence technology, which is evolving rapidly. We do so in the context of needing to tackle the threat with a comprehensive strategy and broad range of defensive measures. We fully support the continuing NATO Theatre Missile Defence Feasibility Studies, and we have a long-standing technical dialogue with the US on the subject of ballistic missile defence. We believe that it remains premature to decide on acquiring a ballistic missile defence capability for either deployed forces or defence of the UK. But we recognise the role ballistic missile defence can play, and our options remain open.

Missile Defence

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the NATO theatre ballistic missile defence feasibility studies to conclude.

Geoff Hoon: The studies are due to end in December 2002.

Warship Repair Facilities

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for (a) increased efficiency in and (b) modernisation of the UK's warship repair facilities.

Adam Ingram: The UK's warship repair is provided at Devonport by Devonport Management Ltd., at Rosyth by Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd. and at Portsmouth by Fleet Support Ltd. The Ministry of Defence is currently seeking to modernise arrangements for warship support across the UK's Naval Bases and Dockyards. Within this initiative, as well as pursuing efficiencies at the Naval Bases, the MOD is seeking to increase the proportion of the programme for surface warship repair that is opened up to competition, with the aim of helping the dockyard companies to drive out excess capacity and increase efficiency.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999, and how many of them related to special advisers.

Lewis Moonie: None.

Call-out Orders

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many call-out orders he signed during 2001; what plans he has for further call-outs; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Reserve Surgical Teams

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by his Department in exploratory talks with the NHS on the provision of sponsored reserve surgical teams.

Lewis Moonie: Officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Health Service (NHS) met in November 2001 to discuss the provision of sponsored reserve surgical teams. The meeting was very useful and we are encouraged by the drive and enthusiasm shown by DoH and NHS colleagues. Initial scoping work is currently being undertaken on a pilot project which we expect to be finalised in the course of the current year.

Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he will place an unclassified version of the report of the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment in the Library;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 661W, when he will place the summary of Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme in the Library.

Geoff Hoon: An unclassified summary of the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme is at an advanced stage of preparation. I expect to place copies of it in the Library of the House within the first quarter of 2002.

Smallpox

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to immunise the armed forces from smallpox and its variants.

Lewis Moonie: We have no immediate plans to immunise members of the armed forces against smallpox or its variants. We continually review the package of defensive measures against chemical and biological attack available to our armed forces, which includes immunisation, commensurate with an assessment of the threat. The Ministry of Defence has in place a series of research, development and procurement programmes aimed at ensuring that personnel are afforded optimum protection against chemical and biological warfare agents, including against smallpox.

Falcon

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Falcon project.

Lewis Moonie: Falcon will provide a formation level communication system for UK forces including the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Falcon remains a significant component of an on-going programme of continuous improvements in Army communications that also includes projects Bowman and Skynet V. Current plans remain on schedule to begin delivery of Falcon in 2006–07.

Falcon

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have taken place in forecast expenditure on Falcon since 30 October.

Lewis Moonie: No changes have occurred to the forecast expenditure on Falcon since 30 October 2001. Falcon remains a significant component of an on-going programme of continuous improvements in Army communications systems that also includes projects Bowman and Skynet V. Current plans remain on schedule to begin delivery of Falcon in 2006–07.

Falcon

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when, and for what reason, a decision was taken to reduce expenditure on the Falcon project.

Lewis Moonie: No decision has been taken to reduce expenditure on the Falcon project.

Falcon

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure is forecast for the Falcon project in (a) 2004, (b) 2006 and (c) further phases; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Falcon is currently nearing the end of the concept phase and in keeping with the principles of smart acquisition decisions on precise timing and levels of expenditure will be informed by work both in concept and assessment phases. Current plans remain on schedule to begin delivery of project Falcon in 2006–07.

Falcon

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement outlining the extent to which Bowman is dependent upon replacing the current Ptarmigan system with Falcon.

Lewis Moonie: As a tactical radio system designed for use from Divisional level and below, effective operation of Bowman is not dependent upon replacement of the current Ptarmigan system with Falcon. Falcon will provide a highly capable communication infrastructure to enable the rapid passage of data between Bowman networks thus contributing significantly to the programme of planned improvements for Army communications.

Chemical and Biological Warfare

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new expenditure he plans for defence against chemical and biological warfare in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.

Geoff Hoon: Expenditure on new equipment for defence against chemical and biological warfare in 2001–02 is estimated, in resource terms, to be in the region of £26 million. Expenditure planned for 2002–03 and 2003–04 has yet to be finalised.

European Security and Defence Policy

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review of the ESDP will be conducted to establish if it meets the needs of the changed international climate.

Geoff Hoon: While there are no plans formally to review the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), EU governments will wish to discuss the implications of the changed international climate as their responses to international terrorism are developed. Our work on producing a "new chapter" for the Strategic Defence Review will include an assessment of the role that international organisations, including the EU, might play.
	Most of the capabilities being developed under ESDP can also play an important part in a military response to international terrorism.

European Security and Defence Policy

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the operations in which he expects the new ESDP to operate.

Geoff Hoon: The European Council agreed at Helsinki in December 1999 that EU member states should be able by 2003, where NATO as a whole is not engaged, to deploy military forces, capable of conducting the full range crisis management operations known as the Petersberg tasks. These include humanitarian and rescue tasks; peacekeeping tasks; and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peace making. The European Council at Laeken in December last year agreed that the EU is now able to conduct some crisis- management operations within this definition. The EU will be progressively more able to take on increasingly demanding operations as the assets and capabilities available to it continue to develop and improve. Decisions to launch and participate in operations will be taken by national governments, on a case by case basis, in light of the circumstances at the time.

European Security and Defence Policy

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had at Laeken about the application of qualified majority voting to EU defence policy.

Geoff Hoon: None. The European Security and Defence Policy falls under Pillar Two of the European Union. Decisions are taken on an intergovernmental basis by unanimous consensus.

Topmast Inquiry

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what issues are being assessed by the Topmast inquiry; and when he plans to publish the Topmast recommendations.

Adam Ingram: Topmast (Tomorrow's Personnel Management System) is developing the manpower management systems needed by the future Navy. It will provide a flexible and responsive system for the management and deployment of manpower which will meet operational needs while providing attractive employment conditions and career progression for Royal Navy personnel. Topmast is also planned to contribute to the reduction of overstretch and the achievement of manpower balance. Following successful trials, Topmast will be rolled out on a phased basis beginning in April 2002. Topmast has already received publicity within the Naval Service, and a comprehensive communication and information programme will ensure that members of the service are fully aware of its purpose and impact.

Army Personnel

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that there is no reduction in the planned size of the Army.

Adam Ingram: Whole Army strength has increased over recent months and we predict a strength figure of between 103,000 and 104,000 by 2005. We remain committed to delivering the military capability required of the Army in the Strategic Defence Review. Work is ongoing into how best to achieve this taking into account evolving doctrine, new technology and equipment.

Defence Programme

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what was the total value of bids submitted for the 2002 short-term programme; and what resources will be available for STP 02;
	(2)  what was the total value of bids submitted for the 2002 Equipment Programme; and what resources will be allocated for funding EP 02.

Adam Ingram: The resources available for the Defence programme are in the case of 2002–03 and 2003–04 set out in the Government's Expenditure Plans 2001–02 to 2003–04 published in April 2001 (Cm 5109) and in the case of subsequent years depend on the outcome of the 2002 and successive Spending Reviews. Specific allocations to budget holders in 2002–03 will be published in Main Resources Estimates 2002–03. Details of individual budget holders' proposals for expenditure are withheld under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Defence Planning Structures

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when ESDP and NATO planning structures will be assimilated.

Geoff Hoon: There are no plans to assimilate NATO planning structures with the EU. Arrangements are being developed for assured access by the European Union to NATO planning capabilities.

Defence Ministers (Greece and Turkey)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet the (a) Turkish and (b) Greek Defence Minister.

Geoff Hoon: I am in regular contact with my Greek and Turkish colleagues and often meet them in the normal course of defence business. I expect to meet both Mr. Çakmakoglu and Mr. Papantoniou again in the first half of 2002.

War Graves

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the Belgian Government about the impact on British war graves of the plans to build the A19 road through the Pilckem Ridge.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has had no discussions with the Belgian Government about proposals for a new road through Pilckem Ridge, nor would the Department expect to do so. Any approach to the British Government from the Belgian Government would follow established protocols and, in the first instance, would be to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office through the British Embassy in Brussels.
	However, I am advised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which has the responsibility for the maintenance of war graves of British and Commonwealth troops in Belgium, that they have had local discussions with the Belgian authorities seeking further clarification of the proposals. They have been assured that while the proposed route has not been finalised, it will not interfere with any Commission-maintained cemetery.

Laeken Summit

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the defence and security implications of the Laeken summit and (b) on the operationality of ESDP within the agreement of NATO for automatic access to NATO capabilities.

Geoff Hoon: The Laeken European Council concluded that the EU is now able to conduct some crisis- management operations and that it will be in a position to take on progressively more demanding operations as the assets and capabilities at its disposal continue to develop. This is entirely consistent with the UK's emphasis on the need to improve European military capabilities.
	This represents useful progress towards the aim set out in the Helsinki Headline Goal, but recognises that capabilities are currently limited. We welcome the commitment reaffirmed by member states at Laeken to continue their efforts to meet the Headline Goad.
	There has been considerable progress towards an agreement on arrangements for EU access to NATO assets and capabilities, but this is not yet fully concluded. Once these agreements are in place, the scale and complexity of the operations that the EU could lead will be considerably increased.

Territorial Army

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is undertaking to improve numbers in the TA.

Lewis Moonie: The current strength of the Territorial Army (TA), including those mobilised on operations and on Full Time Reserve Service, almost exactly matches the overall target size of the TA set as a result of the Strategic Defence Review. It is therefore in good shape, although there are some specific areas where numbers fall short of target, most notably the Army Medical Service (TA). The current "Time to get fitTA" campaign, launched on 28 December 2001, and a further recruiting campaign to be launched in the spring, are intended to keep the TA in its current healthy state.

Territorial Army

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many TA Intelligence Corps personnel he is mobilising; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  where he plans to deploy TA Intelligence Corps personnel under mobilisation order; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what arrangements are being made to ensure that mobilised TA personnel will enjoy make up of civilian pay plus other allowances; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  which Territorial Army units are under mobilisation orders.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possibility of transferring the running of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps to France or Germany.

Geoff Hoon: As the Framework Nation, the UK has invested heavily in manpower, resources and training to ensure that the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) is the Supreme Allied Commander Europe's primary land forces tool for crisis management. We believe that it will remain so for the foreseeable future. There are no plans to transfer the Framework Nation role for the ARRC to France or Germany.

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the importance of modernising Army communication systems to maintain UK running of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in the face of competition from Germany and France.

Lewis Moonie: The Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) remains a key component of the UK's commitment to NATO. This commitment is reflected in current plans to provide a range of strategic communication enhancements to the ARRC from 2002 so ensuring it can meet NATO requirements as a high readiness force. In addition, the ARRC will benefit directly from the planned programme of continuous improvements to Army communication systems delivered through projects Bowman, Skynet V and Falcon.

Army Communications

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the budget for modernising army communications has been reduced.

Lewis Moonie: No decision has been taken to reduce the budget for modernising army communication systems. On the contrary, significant plans are in place to deliver a programme of continuous improvement to army communication systems through projects Bowman, Skynet V and Falcon.

Army Communications

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many telephone lines are being rented to make good deficiencies in the Army Ptarmigan system.

Lewis Moonie: Subject to operational considerations, geographically separate Ptarmigan systems may be connected by local telephone networks to provide interconnectivity and communications infrastructure resilience over substantial distances. In addition, elements of the UK civil telephone network can be used to facilitate low level Ptarmigan training. The number of telephones used at any given time is not recorded centrally.

Army Communications

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional equipment is being provided by signal requirements to make good deficiencies in the Army Ptarmigan system.

Lewis Moonie: The Ptarmigan system continues to meet the operational requirement for which it was originally procured. In response to the changing and wide ranging demands now placed upon the armed forces, a number of Ptarmigan enhancements are being procured to ensure the system remains fully effective in the modern environment. Improvements include an enhancement to the mobile communications capability and an update of the Electronic Repair Vehicle. Post design services tasks, such as generator replacement, also continue to ensure Ptarmigan remains fully effective. In the longer term, the Army's trunk communication's requirement will be met by project Falcon, due to replace Ptarmigan from 2006–07.

Decontamination Equipment

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what NBC (a) detection and (b) decontamination equipment is available to (i) RAF bases, (ii) naval bases and (iii) Army bases; what plans he has to upgrade it; what arrangements he has made for that equipment to be made available to the civil authorities; how deployable it would be in the event of an NBC attack on mainland Britain; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Sufficient detection and decontamination equipment is held by armed forces to ensure that they can maintain their effectiveness against the threat from NBC weapons on deployed operations. There are constant improvements in these capabilities.
	The civil authorities have a detection and decontamination capability and are responsible for detection of NBC weapons in the UK and for decontamination if there is an attack. The Ministry of Defence would be available to provide support to civil authorities depending on circumstances.

Service Pensioners

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service pensioners there are; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As at 31 March 2001, there were 269,135 service pensioners.

Service Pensioners

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel have served more than 10 years but less than that required for a full pension, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Full pension for other ranks is payable after completion of 37 years service. The figures in the table show those who have left having served more than 10 years but less than 37 years in the 12-month period up to 1 April in the specified years.
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1 April 2001 78,823 
			 1 April 2000 79,412 
			 1 April 1999 78,638

Service Pensioners

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service widows qualify for service pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As at 31 March 2001 there were 65,282 widows and widowers receiving service pensions.

Training Exercises

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises have been carried out by the armed forces in and from (a) Spain, (b) Portugal, (c) the Netherlands, (d) Germany, (e) Norway and (f) the United States in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: The table indicates the number of unilateral or bilateral training exercises carried out in the last 12 months.
	
		
			  Number of training exercises 
		
		
			 UK forces abroad  
			 Spain 6 
			 Portugal 1 
			 The Netherlands 1 
			 Germany 14 
			 Norway 10 
			 United States 29 
			   
			 Foreign forces in UK  
			 Spanish 0 
			 Portuguese 2 
			 The Netherlands 6 
			 German 5 
			 Norwegian 0 
			 United States 16

Harassment

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the internal complaints procedure for harassment experienced by armed forces personnel during training; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The armed forces take their obligations as an employer very seriously. The Armed Forces Code of Social Conduct sets standards of personal behaviour and we uphold a policy of zero tolerance towards any incidents of harassment, victimisation, unlawful discrimination or bullying. The well established procedures for dealing with harassment complaints within the Services do not differentiate between those under training and those who are trained.

Nuclear Base

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future (a) operation and (b) organisation of Britain's nuclear base on the River Clyde.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is seeking to modernise arrangements for warship support and achieve best value for money for the Defence budget. At the Clyde, as at the other Naval Bases at Devonport and Portsmouth, we have received proposals from the Dockyard Companies for potential partnering arrangements. We have also received alternative proposals from the Trades Unions for the pursuit of efficiencies at the Naval Bases. All options are currently being considered, and decisions on the way ahead will be made in the near future. We have no plans to privatise the facilities.
	The Naval Base Commander will remain in charge of the operation of the Base and in control of all the outputs. The proposals for partnering at the Clyde would entail Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd. taking on the management of engineering support, facilities and estates management and certain logistics functions at the Naval Base. There would be no change to the overall operation of the Base. The proposals will not affect nuclear authorisation, or safety and security at the Naval Base.

Heavy Equipment Transporter

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to take receipt of the first heavy equipment transporter; and who is the prime contractor.

Lewis Moonie: I expect the first 20 heavy equipment transporters to enter service in 2003. The equipment will not be the property of the Ministry of Defence but will be owned and operated by the Fasttrax consortium, led by Brown and Root, under the privately financed service contract placed on 14 December 2001.

Armoured Vehicles

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Challenger II tanks, (b) Warrior, (c) Saxon, (d) FV430, (e) Sabre, (f) Scimitar, (g) Striker, (h) Spartan, (i) Sultan, (j) Samson and (k) Samaritan armoured vehicles were operational in (i) October and (ii) November.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is held quarterly and not monthly. The information for the quarter ending 31 December 2001 will be available at the end of this month. I will write to the hon. Member at that stage and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

WEU

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military planning officials from the WEU will be transferred to the EU military planning section.

Geoff Hoon: The WEU military staff ceased to function in June 2001. EU military staff posts are filled by national secondees. There has been no formal transfer of WEU military staff to the EU, although some individuals have been transferred.

A400M

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many A400M's have to be ordered by EU member states for the programme to be cost effective.

Lewis Moonie: The A400M contract signed on 18 December 2001 was for an initial order of 196 aircraft, well above the notional programme viability level of 180 aircraft. An offtake of less than 180 would impact on programme costs, which would clearly need to be considered by partner nations.

Aircrew Retention

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the series of issues affecting retention that the working party on Aircrew Retention has been examining.

Adam Ingram: The main issues identified by the Aircrew Retention Review as to why aircrew leave the Services were:
	(a) The pull of a buoyant external employment market (while current difficulties being experienced by the civil sector may result in a short-term reduction in the pull factor, long-term solutions will be needed.
	(b) A push effect arising from a diminution in faith/belief in the influence of senior leadership (this phenomenon has also been detected by other nations' armed forces).
	(c) A host of "quality of life" issues, including the level of operational tempo and some career-management issues.
	(d) The push of a gratuity/pension being available should aircrew decide to leave in their late 30s.
	Action to address some of these issues was already in hand (such as the creation of a Defence Leadership Centre); for others it will take longer to make an impact but, under the direction of the Defence Management Board, plans are being drawn up to address each of the issues raised by aircrew. In some cases the retention-negative factors are an integral part of life in the armed forces and, as an acknowledgement of this, Service pay is augmented by the "X" factor (currently 13 per cent.).

Royal Navy Ships

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present deployment of Royal Navy ships.

Adam Ingram: As at 7 January 2002, 21 Royal Navy ships were deployed from their home ports. HMS Illustrious, HMS Fearless, HMS Cornwall and HMS Southampton are deployed in the Gulf region in support of Operation Veritas. The Armilla Patrol Ship HMS Kent is also in the Gulf. The survey vessel HMS Scott is deployed in the Arabian Sea. HMS Montrose, HMS Leeds Castle and the Ice Patrol Vessel, HMS Endurance, are in the South Atlantic. HMS Exeter, allocated to NATO's Standing Naval Forces Atlantic, is currently in the mediterranean as is the survey vessel HMS Beagle. HMS Chatham left Devonport on 6 January to rejoin NATO Standing Force Mediterranean. Other ships away from their home ports are HMS Cumberland, HMS Portland, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Somerset, HMS Middleton, HMS Dulverton, HMS Lindisfarne, HMS Dumbarton Castle and HMS Alderney. These vessels are deployed in or around UK waters, either on patrol, trials or transit.
	HMS Sutherland is alongside at Devonport at 14 days notice to move to the Caribbean.
	For completeness, as at 7 January 2002, a total of 14 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships were also deployed in support of the Royal Navy ships.

Strategic Defence Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 December 2001, Official Report, columns 5–6W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

Submarines (Female Personnel)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to allow female personnel to serve in submarines.

Adam Ingram: We are committed to equality of opportunity in the armed forces, and all posts are open to women unless there are specific reasons to the contrary. Women are not presently permitted to serve in submarines because of medical concerns for the safety of a foetus and hence of the mother. These concerns arise from the contaminants which build up in the atmosphere of our submarines, all of which are nuclear powered and may remain submerged for up to 90 days for operational reasons. These contaminants include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and about 30 other substances potentially harmful to a foetus. Medical studies have shown that these contaminants may occur at levels which, while they are not harmful to adults, exceed those considered safe for the foetus of a pregnant woman. There is no reliable test for detecting pregnancy in its very early stages.
	The medical advice on this issue has recently been subjected to independent review by the Defence Scientific Advisory Council and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; both have supported the key conclusions of the earlier research work. Accordingly, I have agreed that women should continue to be excluded from service in submarines for the time being. However, the medical research and advice will be kept under active review, together with other relevant factors such as the experience of other Navies.

Departmental Homes

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's homes have been empty in each year since 1990; what action is being taken to reduce their numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Data for service family accommodation in UK for 1990 and 1995–2001 are given in table 3.31 of UK Defence Statistics 2001, which is available in the Library of the House. The data for the period 1991 to 1994 is available in earlier editions of Defence Statistics. A summary is given in the table:
	
		Thousand 
		
			  Year to April Vacant service family accommodation 
		
		
			 1990 11.8 
			 1991 10.3 
			 1992 9.4 
			 1993 9.2 
			 1994 9.9 
			 1995 9.9 
			 1996 13.5 
			 1997 13.2 
			 1998 13.5 
			 1999 14.0 
			 2000 14.7 
			 2001 10.4 
		
	
	Over many years, the continuing decline in service families' demand for married quarters has offset reductions in the Defence housing stock. However, the Defence Housing Executive is making good progress with a substantial programme of surplus property disposal. Over 6,700 houses were disposed of in the 15 months to 31 March 2001, and a further 3,500 have been identified for disposal by 31 March 2002.

Kosovo

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 349W, on Kosovo, what plans he has to investigate the failure on 6 November to meet the target time in which priority one casualties require to be repatriated.

Adam Ingram: A priority one patient is defined as somebody for whom speedy evacuation is necessary to save life or limb, to prevent serious illness or to avoid serious permanent disability. The Royal Air Force aim to return such patients to the UK within 24 hours of a request for medical evacuation. The actual time taken to return a patient to the UK will reflect a number of factors, including the stability of their condition—to move a patient too soon can be as dangerous as to move them too late—the distance to be travelled and the weather.
	Of equal importance is the treatment the patient receives pending their return. In the case to which you refer, all the procedures followed have been, as always in such cases, subject to close scrutiny to ensure all was done that could be done to provide the best levels of medical care as quickly as possible. The patients were properly cared for within the intensive treatment unit of the integrated US/UK medical unit at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, and there were no delays in the return leg of the aeromedical evacuation flight.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what plans her Department has to tackle the trade in bushmeat;
	(2)  what funding (a) has been granted by her Department to projects connected to the trade in bushmeat in West and Central Africa in each year since 1999 and (b) is projected for (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004.

Hilary Benn: Responsibility for addressing the international trade in bushmeat lies with HM Customs and Excise, who implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
	In this context, DFID is involved in various initiatives that contribute to the conservation of wild animals and their habitats (see Annexe 1). We fund projects and studies that address sustainable forest management and bushmeat production where this is key to tackling poverty. We currently fund three projects in West Africa with direct links to bushmeat. Part of the Mount Cameroon Project (MCP) is supporting local communities to manage forest resources sustainably; this accounts for an estimated £50,000 p.a. of the projects funds. The Cameroon Community Forestry Development Project has been assisting government to develop protocols for community timber management; now that these are in place, the project team is working to establish community wildlife protocols for sustainable bushmeat harvesting. Both projects will finish this year, though we expect to contribute to a forestry sector programme in 2003, which will include a substantial community natural resource management element.
	In Ghana we are funding the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) to undertake research into bushmeat production, and particularly into the distribution of the value of bushmeat between producers and traders and how this affects poverty. This study will be completed in 2002, when we will consider the value of an extension into at least one other West African country in 2003–04, with estimated funding of £50,000 to £100,000 p.a.
	DFID also supports some 155 initiatives in developing countries to help them manage their forests sustainably, and is also working to help reduce illegal logging. These initiatives promote sustainable forest management and thereby should have an indirect positive impact on wildlife. DFID's main efforts are directed at combating illegal logging at source and addressing the other underlying causes of poor forest management, since most illegally harvested timber (up to 80 per cent. in some countries) is consumed domestically.
	
		Annexe 1: Examples of DFID-supported bilateral projects, and research and studies, that have a strong focus on wildlife/bushmeat species
		
			 Name of project Country Period of support Amount (£000) 
		
		
			 Mbomipa Community Wildlife Project Tanzania 1997–2001 1,973 
			 Wildlife Intensification for Livelihood Development (WILD) Namibia 1999–2002 1,040 
			 Madikwe Community Wildlife Management South Africa 1997–1999 622 
			 Amboro Rural Development Bolivia 1996–2000 3,200 
			 Mount Cameroon Project Cameroon 1995–2002 10,602 
			 Community Forest Development Project Cameroon 1999–2002 1,049 
			 Indonesian Multi-Stakeholder Indonesia 1998–2005 25,150 
			 Cross River State Community Forestry Project Nigeria 1996–2001 2,000 
			 Forest Sector Development Project Phase II Ghana 2000–04 11,963 
			 Joint-funding scheme with WWF:
			 Gashaka-Gumpti/Kupe Nigeria/Cameroon 1991–2001  
			 Coastal forests/Bogoria/Udzungwa Kenya/Tanzania 1990–20016,289  
			 Kunene/Caprivi Namibia 1998–2001  
			 Mamiraua/Varzea Brazil 1991–2000  
			 Studies and research:
			 Livestock-wildlife interactions Africa 1997–2001  
			 Illegal hunting in Serengeti NP Tanzania 1997–2000575  
			 Bushmeat in rural livelihoods of West Africa Ghana/Cameroon 2000–02

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has held with representatives of African Governments regarding the trade in bushmeat.

Hilary Benn: We fund two bilateral projects in Cameroon related to the issue of bushmeat. Since 1995, the Mount Cameroon Project team has been working closely with the Cameroon Ministry of Environment and Forests to establish field level community management of timber and wildlife resources. The Community Forestry Development Project in Cameroon has been drawing on this experience to help communities manage their wildlife resources under the Forest Law. We also assisted with discussions with the Government of Cameroon over the preparation of an Emergency Action Plan following the 1999 Yaounde Heads of State Declaration, which included measures to ensure that an EC-funded road maintenance project did not lead to unsustainable harvesting of forest and wildlife resources.

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has held with logging and mining companies operating in West and Central Africa that operate in areas of high bushmeat trade.

Hilary Benn: Through our country office in Cameroon we have been holding a series of ad hoc discussions with logging company representatives on how to promote sustainable forest management. These discussions recently culminated in a workshop to review a draft logging manual that pulls together the diverse pieces of legislation into a single coherent text, that the private sector and government can then apply.
	In the upcoming few months we will be financing further specific meetings with logging companies in the context of preparing for a Forest and Environment Sector Programme.

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the impact Department-funded infrastructure projects in West and Central Africa have on the trade in bushmeat;
	(2)  what mitigation measures are taken to prevent the trade in bushmeat on Department-funded infrastructure projects; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness.

Hilary Benn: Our Department's procedures require that any new infrastructure project be screened for its potential impact on the environment. If initial screening indicates that the project could have significant impacts on the environment, then further investigation such as Environmental Analysis or a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be undertaken. All projects funded by this Department must comply with in-country guidelines or legislation. While we check the need for an EIA and the adequacy of them where they are required, the assessment itself is often financed and carried out by others.
	With regard to bushmeat, we held intensive discussions with the Government of Cameroon over the preparation of an Emergency Action Plan following the 1999 Yaounde Heads of State Declaration, which included measures to ensure that an EC-funded road maintenance project did not lead to unsustainable harvesting of forest and wildlife resources.

Trypanosomiasis

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what her Department is doing to support research and development into new drugs to combat African trypanosomiasis;
	(2)  what her Department is doing to ensure that treatment for African trypanosomiasis is more widely available in Africa;
	(3)  what action her Department is taking to support efforts to raise awareness of trypanosomiasis in Africa.

Hilary Benn: The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that "sleeping sickness" or trypanosomiasis occurs in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with 300,000 new cases annually, but poor data and diagnosis make it difficult to estimate the full extent of the problem. Recently there have been epidemic outbreaks in central and eastern Africa, especially in countries experiencing civil war and social upheaval.
	We are committed to improving the health of poor people in developing countries, including by improving access to essential drugs and vaccines to combat the diseases that most affect them. Part of this commitment is to make safe and effective essential drugs available at an affordable price. We look to WHO to help raise the awareness of this issue and to ensure that this is achieved through international collaborative efforts. We provide significant resources to WHO to support this work.
	WHO is currently working with Medecins Sans Frontieres and pharmaceutical manufacturers to ensure drug supplies for the treatment of sleeping sickness free of charge for the next five years. it will also increase surveillance teams and undertake research on better treatment regimens. We, along with other donors are working in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry and research organisations to support the development of new drugs. The Gates Foundation is currently funding the development and trials of a promising new drug for treatment.
	We also recognise the need to ensure that existing drugs are available, particularly to the poorest. This requires strengthening systems of delivery for quality assured drugs. We work with countries in improving systems to procure and distribute drugs, manage drug supplies and encourage appropriate drug use.

Refugee Camps (Pakistan)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on (a) the provision of aid to and (b) the standards in refugee camps in Pakistan.

Hilary Benn: In addition to those who have moved into Pakistan from Afghanistan since 11 September, Pakistan has been shouldering the burden of some 2 million refugees from Afghanistan for many years. Over the last 20 years, these refugees have been hosted in camps in Pakistan or absorbed into local communities. The majority of the camps in Pakistan pre-date the agreement of the international Sphere standards.
	The international community is giving Pakistan all possible support in coping with this burden and making progress towards improving standards in camps, including ensuring that all refugees are properly cared for.
	So far DFID has committed £3 million to UNHCR's operations, in response to the current crisis, to support its operations for refugees. This has included technical personnel, material and financial support. At the request of UNHCR, we have provided three relief flights to Iran and Pakistan transporting tents, shelter material and communications equipment. We have also provided a specialist site planner to UNHCR in Pakistan to assist with the setting up of new refugee camp sites. In addition we have provided £6 million to NGOs, much of which has been directed towards Afghans in neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, and £11 million to support communities in Pakistan most affected by the influx of refugees.

Afghanistan

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on food distribution in Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: The World Food Programme (WFP) continues to make good progress in transporting food aid to Afghanistan. It delivered a record 116,000 metric tonnes of food during the month of December alone, using a network of some 2,000 trucks, as well as air and barge operations. It is working to keep routes open over the winter using all-weather vehicles and specialised snow teams.
	As part of its operations, WFP is also targeting vulnerable people in urban centres. Last month, some 1.3 million people received food rations in Kabul. Food aid will be distributed to a further 0.25 million people in Herat this week. There are, however still pockets of insecurity where access is difficult, particularly in the south and east, around Kandahar and Jalalabad.

Displaced People (Tora Bora)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the number of displaced people in Tora Bora region; and what assistance is being provided to those people.

Hilary Benn: Continuing insecurity in the Tora Bora area means that it is difficult to provide accurate figures. However, UN agencies and NGOs estimate that between 1,000 and 2,000 families have moved from the area to stay with relatives in neighbouring districts, including Jalalabad city.
	United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs are providing the displaced in those districts with food, shelter and other essential supplies.

Palestine

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what proportion of her Department's (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral spending in the Palestinian territories goes towards furthering peace and security in the region;
	(2)  how much of her Department's (a) funds disbursed though the European Union and (b) bilateral aid budget go to the Palestinian territories.

Hilary Benn: In the current financial year we expect to spend about £14 million bilaterally to support development in the Palestinian territories. Our multilateral contributions comprise: £25 million in 2001 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA); 5 per cent. of the World Bank's resources (about £13 million since 1994); and 17 per cent. (about £30 million in 2001) of the European Commission's development budget which includes our share of the EC contribution to UNRWA. All these efforts are designed to contribute towards peace and security in the region by helping to build capacity in the Palestinian Authority, and meeting the basic needs of the local people.

Palestine

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the (a) charities and (b) NGOs she funds which work in the Palestinian territories.

Hilary Benn: It is not possible to distinguish precisely between NGOs and charities. We currently fund development projects with the following organisations:
	Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees
	Medical Aid for Palestinians
	Save the Children Fund
	Gaza Community Mental Health
	Oxfam
	Palestinian Hydrology Group
	Healthlink Worldwide
	Tamer Institute for Community Education
	Teacher Creativity Centre
	Islamic Relief
	World University Service
	Middle East Non Violence and Democracy
	World Vision
	Multipurpose Resource Centre
	Near East Foundation
	Palestinian Agriculture Relief Committees
	Islah Charitable Organisation
	Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation
	Ard El Insan Organisation
	Palestine Red Crescent Society
	National Foundation for Investment and Development
	Sunbula Organisation
	National Society for the Visually Handicapped
	Family Defence Society
	Palestinian Law Society.

Transnational Crimes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is providing to developing countries wishing to (a) ratify and (b) implement the UN convention against organised trans-national crimes.

Hilary Benn: We are working with the international community and governments in many countries to address the poverty caused by weaknesses in the areas covered by the convention. We give support to: international measures against the trafficking of women and children, for example, assistance and training for withdrawing them from such exploitation and reintegrating those affected into the community; strengthening legislative measures against corruption; improving controls against money laundering (including regional and international collaborative mechanisms); developing mechanisms for asset seizure and recovery (including international co-operation); assisting countries in accessing mutual legal assistance from the UK; and helping to build capacity in enforcement authorities (in particular, the judiciary, the police and customs services).

Ethiopia

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department provides to displaced people in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: Since March 2001 we have committed £6 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for their operations in Ethiopia. This support includes assistance to internally displaced persons in Tigray.

Cities Alliance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department has (a) allocated and (b) given to Cities Alliance.

Hilary Benn: DFID has supported the Cities Alliance since its inception. We have allocated £700,000 per annum for the core budget over the three years starting in 2000. The first year's allocation has been fully utilised. To date the total amount given to Cities Alliance is £1,050,000. In addition we have made provision for some non-core technical assistance in connection with Cities Alliance.

European Council (Laeken)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department had at the European Council's meeting in Laeken; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The European Council meeting at Laeken on 14–15 December 2001 was attended by the Prime Minister. The conclusions of the meeting were deposited in the House Library and the Prime Minister made a statement to the House on 17 December.
	Paragraphs 53–56 of the conclusions deal with development co-operation. The UK strongly supports EU work to improve the co-ordination of European and international development policies, as a contribution to the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development in March and the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development in September. We also support EU efforts to encourage progress towards the target of providing 0.7 per cent. of gross national income as official development assistance. We are prepared to examine the proposal to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank but believe that the first step in improving the effectiveness of EU financial support to countries of the Mediterranean region must be to deliver funds from the EC's MEDA programme more effectively.

Ebola

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken in response to (a) the recent outbreak of ebola in Gabon, and (b) the cases reported in Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hilary Benn: We have supported the World Health Organisation (WHO) in building up capacity to respond effectively to ebola fever by supporting the creation of the global outbreak alert and response network under which outbreaks such as these are dealt with.
	An international team from the network is currently working closely with teams from the respective Ministries of Health in the countries affected.

Great Apes Survival Project

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is offering to the Great Apes Survival Project.

Hilary Benn: The main UK Government support for the Great Apes Survival Project (GrASP) will be provided through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Our Department's work on poverty reduction and the promotion of sustainable forest management in range states is expected to make a positive contribution to ape conservation. To this end we will continue to liaise closely with United Nations Environment programme, DEFRA and other GrASP stakeholders.

Infrastructure Projects

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if an environmental impact assessment is carried out on every infrastructure project funded by her Department.

Hilary Benn: Our procedures require that all projects are screened for their potential impact on the environment. If initial screening indicates that an activity could have significant impacts on the environment, further investigation such as Environmental Analysis or a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be undertaken. While our Department checks the need for an EIA and the adequacy of them where they are required, the assessment itself is often financed and carried out by others. Where we are funding the improvement of an existing enterprise or facility, an environmental audit would be undertaken rather than an EIA. All projects funded by our Department must comply with in-country guidelines or legislation. These may require an EIA to be carried out.

Sierra Leone

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on the future delivery of United Kingdom humanitarian aid in Sierra Leone; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: We stand ready to respond quickly to new humanitarian requests from the UN and other agencies as they emerge. We have committed £12 million for humanitarian activities in Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries over the last 18 months.

Sierra Leone

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment is of links between Sierra Leone and Liberia and the effect of these on the delivery of United Kingdom humanitarian aid; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Formal diplomatic links between Sierra Leone and Liberia have improved of late, and both countries remain members of the Mano River Union. The state of the relationship does not affect our ability to deliver humanitarian assistance to either county. We have committed £12 million to humanitarian activities in Sierra Leone and other countries in the region over the last 18 months.

Sierra Leone

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level of representation by her Department in Sierra Leone she considers appropriate.

Hilary Benn: DFID's day-to-day representational interests in Sierra Leone are looked after by the British high commission in Freetown, which is headed by a senior-grade high commissioner drawn from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Development Section is headed by an experienced DFID officer. We consider this level of representation to be appropriate for our needs.

Sierra Leone

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will respond to the request from the Army to have a senior official from her Department at the same senior decision-making level as the Army officers in the field in Sierra Leone.

Hilary Benn: We have received no formal request. Officials discussed the proposal informally with UK military representatives in Sierra Leone last year, but concluded that there was not a strong case for having a dedicated senior grade DFID person posted to Sierra Leone.

Departmental Officials

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on the need for her Department's officials in-country to have equivalent decision-making powers and be at the equivalent decision-making level as military and diplomatic counterparts.

Hilary Benn: The heads of department for International Development offices overseas have substantial delegated authority. In some cases this may exceed that of their diplomatic and military counterparts. These posts are graded using standard job evaluation, relying on job weight analysis. It would not be possible or appropriate to apply any general policy based on equivalence of authority, the nature and comparability of which vary greatly from post to post.

Vietnam

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to link future aid to Vietnam to improvements in human rights.

Clare Short: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out every person's entitlement to social, economic, political and civil rights. Our work to support the reduction of poverty is focused on improving the human rights of the poor. Our expanding programme in Vietnam reflects the Vietnam Government's strong track record in reducing poverty from 74 per cent. of the population in 1984 to 37 per cent. in 1998. We are working to address the root causes of disadvantage, for example through rural livelihoods programmes in areas of remaining high poverty and large ethnic minority populations, and through work in primary education aimed at disadvantaged groups.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complaints have been reported in her Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers.

Clare Short: None.

Angola

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance is provided to Angola; what proportion is used to promote reconciliation in that country; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development's bilateral aid budget to Angola for this financial year (2000–02) is £3.7 million, of which £2.5 million has been earmarked for development assistance. Support is mainly provided through international NGOs, to encourage trust, collaboration and partnerships between community organisations and local government. Such community co-operation and organisation contributes toward the strengthening of civil society, which is a prerequisite to future peace and stability in Angola.
	Our major commitment to Angola is the Luanda Urban Poverty Programme (£6.65 million over three years). It began in July 1999, and aims to improve the economic livelihoods and access to basic services for the urban poor. In addition, it will enhance the capacity of communities and national NGOs to work with local government to meet basic needs.
	We also provide limited support to the Government of Angola to assist with the development of its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).
	In addition to our bilateral aid programme, the Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF) is supporting civil society-strengthening programmes in Angola. In Luanda we are implementing a £250,000 project that will strengthen the capacity of local NGOs to disseminate human rights and peace-building information. The CSCF is also supporting peace-building and democratisation through raising the awareness of crucial target groups (teachers, local leaders, community workers, journalists, etc.) about human rights, the rule of law and promoting citizenship.
	In 2000, EU aid to Angola totalled £26.05 million. The UK contributed 19 per cent. toward this total (£4.95 million). The figure for 2001 is not yet available.

Tanzania

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from the World Bank and Oxfam regarding the impact of the pending sale of a military air control system by BAE Systems to the Government of Tanzania on that country's economic development; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: In my capacity as UK Governor of the World bank I am fully aware of bank concerns about the proposed sale of the BAE air traffic control system on the development of Tanzania. The concern relates to the system's technical applicability and value for money. These concerns were discussed with donors and undertakings made by the Government of Tanzania prior to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank board meetings at the end of November 2001. The Government of Tanzania undertook to work with the International Civil Aviation Organisation in identifying Tanzania's civil aviation requirements and to explore possible modification of the contract with BAE to meet these requirements. On this basis the bank and fund boards agreed that Tanzania would reach Completion Point under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative at their November meetings.
	I raised the World Bank concerns with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who is responsible for decisions on export licence applications.
	I have received no representations from Oxfam.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Rents

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of rent increases in 2003–04 as a result of the formula rent on the pension credit arrangements to be brought in in 2003.

Sally Keeble: Under the Pension Credit, which replaces the minimum income guarantee from October 2003, all housing benefit recipients in the social sector will, as now, have any increases in their rent paid for in full.
	In addition, DWP Ministers have announced that the starting income threshold for housing benefit will be raised in line with the pension credit, so that no pensioner loses housing benefit as a result of the more generous pension credit.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 102W, for what reason it is not possible to estimate what cost might be involved if he decides not to proceed with PPP for the London Underground.

David Jamieson: It is too early at this stage to say how much grant London Underground would require if the Tube modernisation plans were not to proceed. However, it is possible to state the compensation that London Underground has agreed to pay bidders if it should cancel the competitions for reasons other than value for money. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 19 December 2001 Official Report, column 503W.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the system-wide average mean distance between failure figures for trains operated by London Underground for each year between (a) 1990–91 and 1993–94 and (b) the latest figure for 2001–02.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for London Underground who inform me that the system-wide average mean distance for 1993–94 and 2001–02 is 4,146 km and 6,472 km respectively. Unfortunately London Underground would need to undertake detailed archive research to obtain comparative data for 1990–91 and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

London Underground

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library a detailed breakdown of the 48 per cent. of costs not subjected to sensitivity analysis in the assessment by London Underground Limited of the PPP and private sector comparison; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: London Underground is carrying out a thorough evaluation of the value for money of bids, including a wide range of sensitivity tests. I understand that London Underground intends to publish this evaluation, but not until it has concluded its negotiations with bidders. To publish the evaluation any earlier would reveal London Underground's negotiating position and so undermine its ability to achieve best value.

London Underground

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the reliability of the Circle line.

David Jamieson: Day to day management of the Circle line is a matter for London Underground. This line, like other parts of the underground, has suffered historic under-investment and the service provided has encountered problems arising both from this and from staff shortages which affected the reliability of operations particularly in 2001–02. I am satisfied that these problems are in the process of being rectified in the short term, in particular through London Underground's programme of work to improve reliability across the network. In the medium and long term, the problems of under-investment will be resolved by the large-scale investment that will be brought into the system through our tube modernisation plans, which will deliver increased capacity, improved reliability and higher quality.

London Underground

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many days in 2001 platform announcements were made advising passengers awaiting Circle line services to take a District line train and change elsewhere because of failure to adhere to the timetable.

David Jamieson: This is an operational matter for London Underground who inform me that this information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

London Underground

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the cost of maintaining the Charing Cross branch of the Jubilee line since it was closed to passenger traffic.

David Jamieson: I understand from London Underground Ltd. that the Jubilee line track between Green Park and Charing Cross and the old Jubilee line areas of Charing Cross station are maintained at an annual cost of £155,000.
	Although the track is not used by customers, it is still part of the underground's operational capability and is used by Jubilee line trains, eg for turning trains when necessary.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference between the final voted departmental expenditure limit and provisional outturn for financial year 2000–01, as listed in the Treasury document, Public Expenditure 2000–01: Provisional Outturn, for Vote III, Environment, Transport and the Regions, subcategories (a) 1 Housing, construction, regeneration, regional policy, planning and countryside and wildlife, England, (b) 2 Roads, local transport and transport industries and (c) 4 Local government: England; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: Full details of outturn against 2000–01 voted provision will be published in the appropriation accounts to be presented to the House of Commons by 31 January 2002. The departmental resource account on an accruals basis will also be presented to the House of Commons before 31 January. Updated estimates of the outturn for departmental expenditure limits in 2000–01 on an accrual basis were published in the 2001 pre-Budget report (Cm 5318), Table B16.

Bull Bars

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what assessment the Government have made of (a) the benefits associated with the fitting of bull bars to vehicles in the UK and (b) the cost of removing bull bars from vehicles fitted with such bars in the UK;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact the European Commission recommendations on safer car fronts will have on deaths and serious injuries associated with bull bars.

David Jamieson: A draft regulatory appraisal was prepared in 1997 in connection with a consultation on possible national action on bull bars. Although this identified the benefits of removing bull bars, it did not identify benefits associated with fitting them. The cost to owners of removing bull bars was estimated at £110 per vehicle, being £35 for physical removal and £75 related to assumptions linked to loss of utility.
	We have not made a separate assessment of the benefits expected from the bull bar aspect of the European Commission's proposal on pedestrian protection.

Mobile Phones

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the number of people using mobile phones while driving, since the publication of the White Paper "Tomorrow's Road—safer for everyone".

David Jamieson: Three observational surveys of mobile phones use while driving have been carried out for the Department by TRL Ltd. The latest survey, carried out in October this year, showed that 2 per cent. of the 27,900 drivers observed were using a mobile phone. 85 per cent. of the phones observed in use were hand-held.
	The surveys are carried out at road junctions at the same time as the seat belt wearing surveys and may not be representative of the extent of mobile phone use by drivers on all roads. Proposals for more detailed surveys are currently being considered.

Housing Stock Transfers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish rules of conduct for stock transfer ballots that include rules to govern the issue of lists of tenants who have yet to vote.

Sally Keeble: Stock transfer ballots are carried out by independent organisations who have their own rules and procedures in place to ensure that the ballot is conducted properly. It would not therefore be appropriate for the Department to publish rules of conduct.

Housing Stock Transfers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the legal status of offer documents sent to council tenants prior to a ballot on the transfer of housing to a registered social landlord is; and to what extent the offer made is legally binding on the new landlord.

Sally Keeble: The offer document forms the first stage of the formal consultation requirements set out in section 106 of and Schedule 3A to the Housing Act 1985 (as inserted by section 6 of and Schedule 1 to the Housing and Planning Act 1986), which a local authority must follow prior to a housing stock transfer. The offer document should contain full details of the transfer proposals and the implications for tenants. Tenants have 28 days during which to comment. The local authority may then revise the proposals to reflect these comments. If, following a positive tenants' ballot, the transfer subsequently goes ahead, the promises made in the offer document are incorporated into the transfer agreement between the local authority and the new landlord which is a legally binding contract.

Council Tax

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the change in Band D council tax in the last four years.

Nick Raynsford: In the last four years, English local authorities have set average Band D council tax increases of 8.6 per cent. (1998–99), 6.8 per cent. (1999–2000), 6.1 per cent. (2000–01) and 6.4 per cent. (2001–02). Decisions on council tax are for local authorities to take, after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers.

Taxis

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries were caused by (i) taxi drivers and (ii) mini-cab drivers in each of the last 10 years.

David Jamieson: The number of people (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents involving taxis in each of the last 10 years is shown in the table. It is not possible to give the proportion of these accidents which were caused by the taxi driver. Information on mini-cabs is not available.
	
		Casualties in road accidents involving taxis—Great Britain
		
			   Severity of casualty  
			 Accident year Killed Seriously injured 
		
		
			 1991 36 599 
			 1992 31 578 
			 1993 17 554 
			 1994 32 665 
			 1995 31 616 
			 1996 31 564 
			 1997 34 524 
			 1998 31 629 
			 1999 39 646 
			 2000 50 600 
		
	
	In 1994 the definition of taxi was changed to include all vehicles registered as hackney carriages, regardless of construction.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many disabled facilities grants have been made, and how much has been spent on average in each of the past five years.

Sally Keeble: The number and average value of disabled facilities grants paid in England over the past five financial years are given in the table. These grants were made under section 1 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and section 101 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to private owners and tenants.
	
		
			   Numbers paid Average grant paid (£) 
		
		
			 1996–97 23,263 4,270 
			 1997–98 23,917 4,200 
			 1998–99 24,135 4,480 
			 1999–2000 25,189 4,880 
			 2000–01 27,655 4,650

Chemicals

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the chemical industry on the implementation of the proposed amendments to the Chemicals (Hazard and Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994.

Alan Whitehead: While there have been no formal discussions at ministerial level, officials at the Health and Safety Executive have had extensive discussions with the chemical industry and with the relevant trade associations about the Regulations.

Chemicals

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the time scale for companies in the chemicals industry to implement the proposed amendments to the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994.

Alan Whitehead: The Health and Safety Commission has recently completed a public consultation exercise on these Regulations with a view to introducing them in the first half of 2002.

Chemicals

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent representations he has received from companies in the chemical industry about the impact of the proposed amendments to the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994.

Alan Whitehead: The Health and Safety Commission has recently completed a three-month consultation exercise on these regulations and has received some 45 responses which are currently being analysed. I also received a letter about the proposed regulations from the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on behalf of a constituent.

Chemicals

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the costs to the chemistry industry of implementing the proposed amendments to the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994.

Alan Whitehead: The Health and Safety Commission's recent consultative document, a copy of which is in the Library, contained an initial estimate of a range of costs and sought further information from consultees.

Westminster City Council

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with Westminster city council concerning the recovery of the money due from Dame Shirley Porter and David Weeks; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: No such discussions have taken place. Recovery of the surcharge is a matter for Westminster city council.

A14

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Highways Agency is (a) to start and (b) to finish its review of the plans on the A14 road improvements; when he will start consultation on the plans; whether the proposed public transport element of the plans will cover from Huntingdon to Cambridge; when he will complete the public transport element of the plans; and whether he will provide financing to complete the road element of the plans.

John Spellar: I have asked the Highways Agency to carry out preparatory work on the major A14 improvements included in the Preferred Plan of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study with a view to an early entry to the Targeted Programme of Improvements. The Highways Agency will begin this work in January 2002 with the aim of finishing it within six months. Public consultation on the route can be expected within 12 months of the scheme's entry into the Targeted Programme of Improvements.
	We have endorsed the general approach that the public transport elements of the Preferred Plan should be in place before extra road capacity is provided. The Preferred Plan proposed that a guided bus system should extend from Cambridge through to the centre of Huntingdon, though capacity on existing roads to allow a dedicated bus corridor from St. Ives to Huntingdon would only be available following the opening of the new A14 bypass. We have encouraged Cambridgeshire county council as the local transport authority to come forward with a full appraisal of the guided bus project within six months. Its completion will depend upon an order under Transport and Works Act 1992 powers.
	The 10-Year Transport Plan provides the resources for implementing decisions arising from the multi-modal studies.

Social Housing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 225W, on social housing, if he will list the sources of funding for the remaining new social housing new build units.

Sally Keeble: 98.71 per cent. of social housing new build units approved for building in 2000–01 were funded by a combination of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme; public subsidy from a body such as a local authority or health authority (which may consist of free or discounted land or cash contributions); private sector borrowing; and registered social landlords' own reserves.

European Transport Policy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on the European Union White Paper, "European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide".

David Jamieson: The European Commission published its White Paper "European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide" on 12 December 2001. The White Paper itself has no legislative or executive force at this stage but it indicates areas where the Commission intends to initiate action over the next few years.
	The Government set out their initial view on the White Paper in an Explanatory Memorandum (11932/01) to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees. To help inform the Government's position further, the Department launched a formal consultation exercise on 1 November 2001, seeking views on the White Paper and its potential impacts upon the transport sector from the transport industry, the devolved Administrations and other interested parties. The deadline for responses is 31 January 2002.

Regional Assemblies

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many written representations he has received in the last 12 months from people in the Wealden constituency expressing support for an elected regional assembly in the South East of England.

Alan Whitehead: None.

Housing Fitness

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost was of the development and piloting of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and of version 1 of the guidance between when the Legal Research Institute at the University of Warwick was commissioned to undertake this work; when the report on the system's development and the guidance were published; and what is the estimated cost of the further research projects designed to refine the system due to be completed during 2002.

Sally Keeble: The development and piloting of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System cost about £740,000 including VAT from the appointment of the University of Warwick in January 1998 up to publication, in July 2000, of the Report on Development and Version 1 of the Guidance. The estimated cost of further research and evaluation from August 2000 until December 2002 is £560,000 including VAT.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the local authorities subject to capping in the local government finance settlement; the amount forgone by each of those authorities and the average reduction to all local authorities if the cap had not been introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: We did not use our reserve capping powers in 2001–02. We will consider the position for 2002–03 when local authorities have set their budgets.

Corporate Governance

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the methodology used to carry out corporate governance reviews of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: For the purposes of inspecting corporate governance arrangements in local authorities, these are defined as:
	The systems and processes by which local authorities lead, direct and control their functions and relate to their communities and partners.
	This definition and the framework to inspect these arrangements are based on the framework for developing a local code of corporate governance published in 2001 jointly by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance Accountants (CIPFA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). This has five main themes: Community Focus; Structures and Processes; Risk Management and Internal Control; Service Delivery Arrangements; and Standards of Conduct. In addition, a corporate governance inspection will address other, cross- cutting elements or indicators of corporate performance, such as people and their relationships, the role of Information and Communications Technology, e-services and political and managerial leadership, among others.
	Corporate Governance inspections build directly on the methodological approach developed for best value inspections of local authority services, including the collection of evidence from an assessment of key council documents, interviews with key personnel, group discussions with staff, the public and stakeholders. Inspections last one week or two weeks, in lower and upper tier authorities respectively and as with best value service inspections, councils are briefed throughout the inspection process and have the opportunity to respond to the inspection findings, presented to them shortly after the on-site phase has ended, and on the draft report.
	Corporate Governance inspection teams will generally comprise one from each of the following personnel:
	Managing Inspector (a senior inspector from the Audit Commission)
	Best Value Inspector (from the Audit Commission)
	District Auditor/Audit Manager, or alternative financial specialist
	Chief Executive (or ex-CEX), or senior manager in a council
	Council Leader, or senior member
	Benefit Fraud Inspector
	Ofsted Inspector (in inspections of upper tier authorities)
	Social Services Inspector (in inspections of upper tier authorities).
	The Local Government White Paper, published on 11 December, will require all upper tier authorities to be subject to a comprehensive performance assessment. These assessments will be informed by the experience of using the corporate governance inspection methodology.

Corporate Governance

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those local authorities who have (a) completed, (b) are undergoing and (c) will start in the year to the end of April 2002 a corporate governance review; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The information is as follows:
	(a) Hackney, Walsall, Hillingdon, Enfield
	(b) Corby, Mendip, Bromsgrove, Rotherham, Bristol
	(c) Torbay, Merton, Rossendale, Hull, Harlow.
	The Audit Commission is finalising its wider approach to the comprehensive assessment of performance in councils, initially for all 150 upper tier authorities in England, as required by the recent Local Government White Paper. It will use the experience from these early corporate governance inspections to develop an approach that enables inspectors—including experienced practitioners from local government—to assess key features of corporate governance arrangements.

Social and Economic Regeneration

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what arrangements are in place to ensure joined up working to deliver the social regeneration and economic regeneration in the most deprived communities; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU) was established to spearhead delivery of the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and to bring a joined up approach to neighbourhood renewal. NRU's staff have been recruited from a range of Government Departments, as well as from the other parts of the public, voluntary, community and private sectors.
	At ministerial level, the work of the NRU is overseen by a Cabinet-level Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister. This Committee will work closely with a Steering Group of Permanent Secretaries.
	At regional level, Government Offices (GOs) join up Government policy in the regions and act as a voice for the regions in central Government. GOs have particular responsibilities for neighbourhood renewal, including helping the NRU to oversee local renewal strategies in their region.
	Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) are the Government's umbrella mechanism for linking local service providers with local authorities, business and the community and voluntary sector to provide a strategic view of local priorities. LSPs will prepare the local neighbourhood renewal strategy, which will clearly set out a local strategic framework for action that responds to neighbourhood needs and puts them in the context of the area as a whole.

Parish Polls

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to restrict the subjects raised in parish polls to matters for which the council organising the poll has responsibility.

Alan Whitehead: The Local Government Act 1972 already restricts the subjects raised in parish polls to questions, raised at a parish meeting, on parish affairs.

Parish Polls

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase the threshold of the numbers of voters required to request a parish poll in large parish and town councils; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: As part of our initiatives, following the Rural White Paper (Cm 4909), to strengthen local democracy at parish level we will be reviewing the operation of parish polls including the threshold of the number of voters required to request a poll in large parish and town councils. Any change to the current requirements will require primary legislation.

Enron

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 800W, on Enron, if new ownership of the former Enron power station at Teesside qualifies for investigation.

Alan Whitehead: The change of ownership of a company is not, normally, a prompt for an investigation by Health and Safety Executive Inspectors. Any consideration and decision concerning whether or not to carry out an inspection or investigation would depend on the circumstances of the change of ownership including the likely effect on the operation of the plant.

Departmental Publicity

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list each (a) public relations and (b) advertising firm that has been employed by his Department and its predecessor since 1997, indicating the subject area and campaign they worked on in each case.

Stephen Byers: The following public relations and advertising companies have been employed by DETR/DTLR since 1997:
	(a) Public relations:
	Fishburn Hedges: "are you doing your bit?" environmental publicity campaign
	The Forster Company: Noise Awareness day
	Charles Bailey: Mayor and Assembly for London
	Central Office of Information: Fire safety.
	(a) Advertising:
	Abbot Mead Vickers/BBDO: Road Safety and "are you doing your bit?" campaigns
	D'Arcy: road safety, focussing primarily on education for children
	WCRS: Mayor and Assembly for London
	BDH TWBA: Quality Mark scheme
	The Leith Agency: Rough Sleepers Unit's Change a Life campaign
	Ogilvy and Mather: Foot and Mouth Public information
	Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper: Fire Safety.

Councillor Complaints

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what is the average length of time taken by district auditors to respond to complaints by councillors in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many cases of complaints from councillors to district auditors are outstanding; and how many of these have been outstanding since (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000.

Stephen Byers: The Audit Commission does not distinguish in its monitoring of matters raised with auditors either between statutory objections and other matters, nor between those raised by councillors and members of the public. The total number of matters raised with, and disposed of by, auditors in any one year is in excess of 100. The majority of all such matters tend to relate to small sums of money in local councils. The Audit Commission does monitor complex and high-value audit cases. There are currently 11 such cases. In six of these the auditors' investigations have been ongoing for more than two years. In the other five cases, the investigation has been on-going for less than two years.

Local Government Settlement

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the GLA precept on the council tax of London boroughs in reaching the local government settlement for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Stephen Byers: London boroughs set their own council tax, to which a GLA precept is added when bills are sent to council taxpayers in London.
	The London boroughs and the GLA should seek the views of their local electorate and taxpayers on the trade-off between changes in tax and changes in service levels.
	From next spring, council taxpayers in London will be able to see clearly by how much their council tax has changed for their borough and for the GLA. This will be shown up-front on the bill, not hidden away in the leaflet.

Local Government Settlement

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, 
	(1)  pursuant to his oral answer of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 137, what impact the change in grant to shire districts will have on the overall local government settlement; and from which budget the additional funding required will be taken;
	(2)  pursuant to his oral answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 137, if he will set out the adjustments which will be made to the 2001–02 baseline for shire districts and the basis of the new calculation;
	(3)  pursuant to his oral answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 137, if he will list (a) the alternative baseline for 2001–02 for each shire district, (b) the increase in grant based on 2.3 per cent. increase on the (i) original baseline and (ii) revised.

Stephen Byers: In my answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 137 I announced that I would introduce an alternative baseline for 2001–02 which, in effect, adjusts only for the transfers of service for which shire districts are responsible and that, in order to guarantee a minimum 2.3 per cent. increase for shire districts, I would ensure that all shire districts received a minimum grant increase of whichever increase is the greater—2.3 per cent. on the original baseline, or 2.3 per cent. on this alternative baseline.
	I will provide further details as part of the final settlement announcement towards the end of January once the consultation period has ended.

Local Government Settlement

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his oral statement of 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 168, if he will set out his reasons for introducing a minimum level of grant increase for the Greater London Authority; and what assessment he has made of the impact of that decision.

Stephen Byers: In both 2000–01 and 2001–02 the Greater London authority was guaranteed a minimum level of grant increase of 0 per cent. under the Central Support Protection Grant scheme, as were other authorities without education and social services responsibilities.
	For 2001–02 we replaced the Central Support Protection Grant for authorities with education and social services responsibilities by the floor and ceiling damping mechanism which operates directly on the amount of Revenue Support Grant payable to an authority.
	For 2002–03 we have extended floor and ceiling damping to cover all local authorities who are entitled to receive Revenue Support Grant, and have also raised the minimum level of grant increase for authorities without education and social services responsibilities from 0 per cent. to 2.3 per cent.
	Providing a minimum level of grant increase, based on a like-for-like comparison of grants in 2002–03 with what they would have been in 2001–02 if the transfers and responsibilities applying in 2002–03 had been in place in 2001–02, provides stability and so helps local authorities to plan effectively. The floor and ceiling damping mechanism is fairer and more transparent than the damping previously provided through the Central Support Protection Grant scheme.

Sewage Workers

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he is taking to monitor health and safety standards for sewage workers.

Alan Whitehead: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for monitoring health and safety standards for those at work, including sewage workers.
	HSE's Utilities National Group, is represented on Water UK's national health and safety committee and contributed to "Water Ahead" a joint strategic plan for improving health and safety in the industry.
	HSE is also working with Water UK on "Clearwater 2010", the industry's project to improve occupational health over the next 10 years. This forms a part of this industry's contribution to the Government's initiatives to reduce accidents and occupational ill health problems over the next 10 years, namely "Revitalising Health and Safety" and "Securing Health Together".

Speed Cameras

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will encourage police and highways authorities to post on their websites details of the location of speed cameras; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Handbook of Rules for entry to the netting-off camera funding scheme provides advice on publicising all aspects of camera operation locally. The development and use of local websites is one recommended local communications vehicle.

Rough Sleepers

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made by the Social Exclusion Unit to reduce the number of rough sleepers.

Sally Keeble: The Rough Sleepers Unit was established in April 1999 following a recommendation of the Social Exclusion Unit in their 1998 report into rough sleeping. The unit was tasked by the Prime Minister to reduce the number of people sleeping rough in England to as near to zero as possible and by at least two thirds by 2002.
	The Rough Sleepers Unit published its strategy on tackling rough sleeping, "Coming in from the Cold", in December 1999. The strategy outlined a raft of new policies and services to deliver the target, which are now all in place across England. These services include helping people sleeping rough on the streets with drug, alcohol and mental health problems; helping former rough sleepers rebuild their lives through education, training and employment; and preventing a new generation of rough sleepers particularly those leaving care, the armed forces and prison.
	The Prime Minister announced on 3 December 2001 that his target had been met and figures show that there are now 532 people sleeping rough in England, compared with around 1,850 in June 1998. This represents a reduction of 71 per cent.
	The success has been due to the RSU's strategy and the hard work of key partners in central and local government and the voluntary and private sector. The RSU's second progress report, published in summer 2001, shows the significant impact the "Coming in from the Cold" strategy has made to individual lives.
	My noble Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced on 3 December that a new Homelessness Directorate would be established in January to bring together and invigorate exiting work to help homeless people and to develop new work to prevent homelessness and investigate its underlying causes. The directorate will also continue to help vulnerable people sleeping on the nation's streets to come inside, help people to rebuild their lives and prevent tomorrow's rough sleepers from hitting the streets in the first place.
	The new directorate will be responsible for taking forward the Government's strategic framework for homelessness in the new year.

Railtrack

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department has taken to encourage Railtrack to reverse its decision to withdraw from the redevelopment of Gourock station.

David Jamieson: The Department has not taken any such steps. The future funding of redevelopment of Gourock station is under discussion between Railtrack, the Scottish Executive and the Strategic Rail Authority.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  whether the proposed company limited by guarantee will need to secure adequate commercial loan facilities to enable it to repay the commercial loan agreement between the Department and the Administrator simultaneously with the ending of the Railtrack administration;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 1014W, on Railtrack, from what potential sources the proposed company limited by guarantee would make a payment to the administrator on the final day of administration; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: It is for the CLG bid team, established under the sponsorship of the Strategic Rail Authority, to put a proposal to the Administrator. The repayment of the commercial loan from the Department to Railtrack plc in administration is a matter which all potential bidders will need to address in their proposals. It is for the Administrator to put a proposal for a transfer scheme before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State based on any propositions he receives.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 1014W on Railtrack, if the Government's policy is to permit the disposal of Railtrack assets to secure the funds listed.

David Jamieson: The cash advances of £1,228 million referred to in my answer of 13 December 2001, on Railtrack, are to be recouped from new debt, not from the realisation of assets.

Railtrack

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to bring forward proposals to establish a company limited by guarantee to take over the functions previously undertaken by Railtrack.

David Jamieson: The timing of a proposal to the Administrator is a matter for the CLG bid team, established under the sponsorship of the Strategic Rail Authority. It is for the Administrator to put a proposal for a transfer scheme before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State based on any propositions he receives. All potential bidders will be aware that both the Administrator and the Government are keen to keep the period of administration as short as possible.

Railtrack

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps Railtrack plc is taking to ensure that structural faults, with particular reference to the masonry of the Glottenham Lane overpass in Robertsbridge, are identified and repaired on the south eastern rail network.

David Jamieson: I understand that Railtrack engineers will inspect the relevant overpass as soon as possible.

Railtrack

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many signal failures were reported in November on (a) the UK rail network, (b) Railtrack's southern zone, (c) the south eastern network and (d) Kent and Sussex; what the figures were for November 1997; and what steps have been taken to ensure that faults are identified and repaired before serious incidents arise.

David Jamieson: I understand from Railtrack that the comparative information requested is not available.

Passenger Rail Franchises

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many passenger rail franchises he estimates will be contracted in line with the original timetable for renewals.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority has reviewed its plans for renewing franchises in light of the Secretary of State's Policy Statement on Passenger Rail Franchising. It announced its new franchising programme on 19 December 2001.

Railways (Winter Estimates)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the change in gross provision for other railways in the winter estimates.

David Jamieson: The change in gross provision for other railways in the Winter Supplementary Estimates 2001–02 is explained in Section lvii on page 8 of those estimates.

Railways (Winter Estimates)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the change in gross provision for the Strategic Rail Authority in the winter estimates;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the increased provision in section lxviii of the winter estimates.

David Jamieson: The change in gross provision for the Strategic Rail Authority in the winter supplementary estimates 2001–02 is explained in section lxviii on page 9 of those estimates.

European Directive (Railways)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the implications of Directive 91/440/EEC for the future structure of railways;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the implications of Directive 2001/14/EC on the future management of the UK rail infrastructure.

David Jamieson: Directive 91/440/EEC, as amended by Directive 2001/12/EC, and Directive 2001/14/EC include a number of requirements concerning the relationships between the member state, managers of railway infrastructure, railway undertakings and a regulatory/ appeal body. The Government are taking these fully into account in decisions on the future management of railway infrastructure and any changes to railway regulation in the UK.

Channel Tunnel Rail Freight

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representation he has made of the European Commission concerning the impact on intra-community trade of the SNCF restriction of channel tunnel rail freight services.

David Jamieson: As a result of contacts made directly by the freight operators, the European Commission has twice asked the French Government in the context of Regulation 2679/98 on the free movement of goods, what steps they are taking to resolve the problems caused by people entering the channel tunnel which has led to the disruption of freight traffic through it. The Government are monitoring developments and urging the French to take all necessary steps to resolve this issue.

Rail Safety

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who has responsibility for (a) setting and (b) enforcing the maximum capacity of railway carriages in order to protect public safety.

David Jamieson: Responsibility for monitoring overcrowding on commuter services rests with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The responsibility for the day to day safety, welfare and convenience of passengers using the railway rests with railway operating companies.
	There are no Health and Safety Regulations or absolute limits set on the numbers of passengers who may be carried as all rolling stock is designed to run safely at maximum capacity. Some train operating companies are required to carry out passenger counts on commuters to meet the passengers in excess of capacity (PIXC) limits set by the SRA.

Rail Privatisation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library the analysis that his Department has undertaken regarding the proportion of the cost and efficiency gains envisaged when the railways were first privatised that were eventually realised.

David Jamieson: The Department has not undertaken such an analysis.

Train Drivers

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the minimum time is after which a newly recruited train driver would be permitted to drive a train (a) at present and (b) five years ago; in each case, whether they would be supervised; and for how long.

David Jamieson: The current requirements recommend between 26 and 29 weeks of driver training before a newly recruited train driver is permitted to drive a train. The driver training period includes a minimum of 225 hours of practical driving under the constant supervision of a qualified instructor driver. Once a driver is deemed competent a two-year supervisory regime is put in place.
	Five years ago, companies were training drivers on the basis of British Rail's training programme. In terms of duration, this programme was slightly shorter than now, although the basic components were similar to now.

Rail Services (Scotland)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what representations he has received relating to the vertical integration of rail services and the railway network within Scotland;
	(2)  what representations he has received regarding vertical integration of sections of the rail system.

David Jamieson: Representations have been received both for and against vertical integration from a number of train operating companies and in general correspondence. It is clear that the apparently simple notion of vertical integration subsumes a range of options about which there is no consensus in the rail industry or elsewhere, whether in regard to Scotland or otherwise.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Export Licences

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licence applications were received by her Department from companies based in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997; how many were (a) granted and (b) refused each year; and what the (i) average and (ii) maximum time taken to process applications was in each year.

Nigel Griffiths: These records are not kept on a constituency basis.
	Details of all export licensing decisions together with information on performance in processing standard individual export licence applications are published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Export Licences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what weight she places on the protection of jobs in areas of high unemployment when considering (a) Form 680 applications and (b) export licence applications.

Nigel Griffiths: The processing of Form 680 applications for the advance approval for promotion prior to formal application for an export licence is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.
	All relevant export licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, including the potential effect on the UK's economic, financial and commercial interests. I refer the hon. Member to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Peter Hain), the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt) on 26 October 2000, Official Report, columns 199–203W.

Export Licences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the value of business covered (a) by Form 680 applications and (b) by export licence applications (i) granted and (ii) turned down each year since 1 May 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: The processing of Form 680 applications for the advance approval for promotion prior to formal application for an export licence is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.
	The value of standard individual export licence (SIEL) applications for which a licence was issued is published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	It would entail disproportionate cost to establish the value of business covered by SIEL applications refused in each year since 1 May 1997.

Fuel Poverty

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of people over 60 years of age live in households that are fuel poor;
	(2)  what her estimate is of the number of (a) people and (b) households that are in fuel poverty;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of those disabled people who receive the middle higher rate of the disability living allowance care component or the higher rate of the mobility component live in households that are fuel poor.

Brian Wilson: It is estimated that in 2000 there were 2.8 million households in England in fuel poverty (based on income including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest), or 3.9 million households (based on income excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest), representing falls of 15 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively compared to 1998. More detailed breakdowns of fuel poverty in 2000 are not available as the estimates for 2000 are broad estimates based on changes in incomes and fuel prices, rather than being based on survey data. Some more detailed breakdowns are available for 1998; however, for some particular analyses the latest information relates to 1996.
	The latest available figures indicate that in England 1.9 million (29 per cent.) households headed by an older couple or a single person over the age of 60 were in fuel poverty in 1998. This is based on fuel poverty being defined as when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on fuel in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime. When fuel poverty is defined using income excluding housing benefit or income support for mortgage interest 2.3 million (35 per cent. of) households headed by an older couple or a single person over the age of 60 were in fuel poverty in England in 1998.
	The table presents estimates of the number of people and the number of households in England in fuel poverty in 1998, the latest year for which estimates of the number of people in fuel poverty are available.
	
		Fuel poverty in England in 1998 -- Million
		
			  People Households 
		
		
			 Fuel poverty defined using income including housing benefit and ISMI(1) 6.2 3.3 
			 Fuel poverty defined using income excluding housing benefit and ISMI(2) 8.7 4.5 
		
	
	(1) Fuel poverty defined as when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on fuel in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.
	(2) Fuel poverty defined as when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on fuel in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.
	Source:
	1998 Energy Follow Up Survey to the English House Condition Survey
	Information on fuel poverty is not available split by the rate of disability living allowance. However, the latest available information (relating to 1996) on figures for households receiving the different components of the disability living allowance that are in fuel poverty, is available from the Libraries of the House.
	An analysis of fuel poverty in England in 1998 was published in August 2001 by DTI and DEFRA, and is available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/fuelpoverty/index.htm.
	Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and therefore it is for the respective Assemblies and Parliament to report on the situation in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Instruments of Torture

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what controls she places on the (a) manufacture and (b) export of instruments of torture; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The manufacture of electric-shock weapons is regulated by the Firearms Act 1968 as amended.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook), the then Foreign Secretary, to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Syd Rapson) on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 65–66W, which announced a ban on the export or transhipment from the UK of certain specified equipment that has been used for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Steel Industry

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the factors which underlay the recent loss of jobs in Newport at Corus and Alcan plants, with particular reference to the value of (a) sterling and (b) the euro.

Brian Wilson: The Government fully understand the difficulties that the weakness of the euro has caused for British industry, particularly manufacturing. However decisions by Corus and Alcan to rationalise their operations, which have unfortunately resulted in job losses, are based on many factors, including the slowdown of the world economy, which are not limited to the value of sterling and the euro.

Miners' Compensation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average time scale is between an application by a miner for compensation and the awarding of compensation; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The Handling Agreement for respiratory disease was formally signed on 24 September 1999 and claims could not be processed before this date. The average time scale from this date, or date of claim if after 24 September 1999, to settlement by expedited payment, following spirometry testing, is seven months. The average time scale, as set out above, for settlement via the full Medical Assessment Process is 1 year 11 months.
	This does not take into consideration interim payments that the Department has been making since May 1998. These payments are made as soon as IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, are in receipt of the relevant documentation.
	Following the resolution of the main outstanding issues for respiratory disease, the number of full and final offers made has risen sharply. The Department continues to identify parts of the process which can be improved and it is envisaged that the volumes of offers should increase as the Department and its contractors continue to ramp up operations.
	The Handling Agreement in respect of Vibration White Finger, VWF, was formally signed on 22 January 1998 and claims could not have been processed before this date. The average time scale from this date, or date of claim if after 22 January 1998, to settlement is 1 year 4 months. This also does not include interim payments made.
	It is envisaged that all existing claimants will be medically assessed by spring 2002.
	Taken together with compensation for respiratory disease, the Department made 7,000 offers, worth £47.7 million in November alone.

Miners' Compensation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many miners have applied for compensation; how many have been given compensation; how much has been given in compensation to date; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: In respect of respiratory disease, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 173,600 claims, to date. 58,273 individual payments have been made totalling £238.8 million.
	With regards to Vibration White Finger, VWF, 133,662 claims have been initiated. 71,954 individual payments have been made amounting to £438.5 million.
	Following resolution of the main outstanding issues, IRISC are now making significant numbers of final offers. In November alone, for both respiratory disease and VWF, 7,000 offers were made worth £47.7 million.

Miners' Compensation

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in assigning a job code to those working as instructors and training officers in relation to mineworkers' compensation claims for respiratory disease.

Brian Wilson: The issue of the appropriate job dust factor for training officers was recently referred to the Dust Reference Panel (DRP), an expert body that is jointly instructed by the claimants' solicitors' co-ordinating group (CG) and the Department. The DRP's report concludes that training officers would spend the majority of their time in a surface non-dusty environment, with only occasional visits underground, and as such should be classified as 'surface non-dusty'. The Department is in discussion with the CG about the DRP's conclusions. If both parties accept the DRP's report, training officers will not be eligible for compensation under the scheme. The category of mining instructor has not yet been referred to the DRP, and no request has been received from the CG for such a referral. The Department proposes to put the category to the DRP as soon as possible, subject to the CG's agreement.

Coal Industry

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total amount paid in operating aid to the UK coal industry under the current scheme; and if she will give details of how it is allocated.

Brian Wilson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Paddy Tipping) on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 653W. The details in that reply are still up to date.

Sellafield

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  when Commission Regulation 3227/76 on nuclear facility safeguards came into force in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on how it has been implemented in respect of Sellafield, with particular reference to the oversight of civil nuclear materials;
	(2)  in what year the Euratom Safeguards Directorate first inspected the mixed civil military reprocessing plant at Sellafield; what verification Euratom has made of net loss of quantity or quality of the nuclear materials subject to Euratom safeguards in the period since the first inspection; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: Commission Regulation (Euratom) No. 3227 came into force in 1977. The first Euratom safeguard inspection visit to the BNFL Sellafield facility took place in 1973 but, as was announced to Parliament in 1986, on 4 June 1986, Official Report, columns 594–95, the simultaneous processing of civil and non-civil material meant that, until then, Euratom safeguard inspectors had not had access to mixed civil/non-civil areas of the facility. However, the co-processing of civil and non-civil material was ended in 1986, since when safeguards procedures have been in place to enable Euratom safeguard inspection of all civil material at the Sellafield facility. The verification activities involved are designed to detect the possible diversion of civil nuclear material from its declared use. There are regular inspections to confirm that information provided by the facility operator pursuant to Commission Regulation (Euratom) No. 3227 is correct (i.e. that the facility, its inventories of nuclear material and changes in these inventories are as reported). Euratom safeguard inspection activities at places such as Sellafield include access to confirm the facility's design, extensive access to and evaluation of plant and process operational data, and independent verification of the nuclear material itself—either by means of direct sampling and/or measurement, or by the application of "containment" and "surveillance measures" (e.g. sealing containers or stores of material, or video surveillance of plant areas) to confirm that previously measured material remains unchanged.

Ofgem

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 303W, on Ofgem, if he will place copies of the consultation responses in the Library.

Brian Wilson: I have placed a list of those who responded in the Libraries of the House. The responses can be viewed in the library of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Central Asia Pipeline Ltd.

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the United Kingdom companies which hold an interest in the Central Asia Pipeline Ltd. (CentGas) Consortium.

Brian Wilson: I am not aware of any UK company involvement in the proposed Central Asia Pipeline Ltd. consortium.

Small Businesses

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the "Think Small First" strategy for supporting small businesses.

Nigel Griffiths: All Government Departments have been encouraged to 'Think Small First'. The Small Business Service (SBS) has consulted across Whitehall to ensure all Departments consider the impact their actions have on small businesses. Significant progress has been made in the Government's three priority areas of:
	(i) entrepreneurial culture and environment;
	(ii) regulatory framework for business; and
	(iii) support for business.
	Examples of progress are as follows: an independent cross-departmental Review of Enterprise and the Economy in Education, led by Sir Howard Davies. The review is expected to report by the end of January 2002; enterprise and entrepreneurial skills are now included in the national curriculum; the launch of the Enterprise Insight "Enterprising Schools" initiative which encourages businesses to get involved in enterprise programmes; SBS consulted at an early stage by all Government Departments when UK regulatory policy issues affecting small businesses are being considered and their comments included in the final Regulatory Impact Assessment; implementation periods introduced for new legislation, which will give business clear guidance on new legislation 12 weeks before it comes into force; the Business Link Operator network re-structured and the national information and advisory service launched to provide a more consistent and customer focused service to small businesses. SBS working with other Government Departments to promote the Business Link Operator network as the route to market for business support services; 'NHS Plus' launched, which will enable a national network of NHS Occupational Health Departments to provide services specifically to small businesses.
	SBS have developed a range of performance indicators to measure the impact and benchmark the success of "Think Small First" (available on the website www.sbs.gov.uk/consultations.) SBS intend to publish the initial findings early this year.

BNFL

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements she is proposing for the transfer of contracts held by BNFL to the Liabilities Management Authority; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The proposals outlined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 990, will not affect BNFL's existing contractual commitments to its customers in any way. Details on how the Liabilities Management Authority is expected to operate in practice will be set out in the White Paper to be published next spring on the Government's overall approach to discharging the UK's public sector civil nuclear liabilities.

Specific Interest Swap Transactions

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date and on whose advice the decision was taken by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to purchase the interest swaps referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of the introduction to the Export Credits Guarantee Department Winter Supplementary Estimates.

Nigel Griffiths: ECGD began to purchase the interest rate swaps referred to in paragraph (i) in 1986 and for (ii) in March 2001.
	ECGD has an agreed risk management policy for managing and controlling interest rate risk. All of these swaps were transacted in accordance with this policy.
	ECGD assesses its own hedging requirements and enters into or unwinds interest rate swaps through an auction process with banks with an investment grade of AA- or better.

Specific Interest Swap Transactions

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will provide a breakdown of the details of the specific interest swap transactions which were used to hedge the cost of interest make-up on fixed rate export finance loans, as referred to in paragraph (i) of the introduction to the Export Credits Guarantee Department Winter Supplementary Estimates.

Nigel Griffiths: Individual details of swap transactions are commercially confidential, but in summary we have 128 dollar interest rate swaps and 34 sterling swaps currently outstanding with a total notional value of US$4.6 billion and £804 million respectively.

Specific Interest Swap Transactions

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will provide a breakdown of the details of the specific interest swap transactions which were used to hedge potential interest make-up costs on pipeline large aircraft sector understanding cases, as referred to in paragraph (ii) of the introduction of the Export Credits Guarantee Department Winter Supplementary Estimates.

Nigel Griffiths: Individual details of swap transactions are commercially confidential, but in summary we have transacted 53 interest rate swaps with a total notional value of US$935 million of which US$325 million is currently outstanding.

Tanzania

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what basis the decision was made to grant an export licence to BAE Systems for its Military Air Traffic Control system to be sold to the Tanzania Government; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: All relevant export licence applications are considered on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria. I refer the hon. Member to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Peter Hain), the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt) on 26 October 2000, Official Report, columns 199–203W.

Tanzania

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the World Bank's study into the technology of the Military Air Traffic Control System; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation considers all relevant information available at the time when assessing export licence applications against the Consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria. Where appropriate, this includes considering the views of international organisations like the World Bank.

Tanzania

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with other Government departments regarding the sale by BAE Systems to the Government of Tanzania of an air traffic control system.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation circulates all relevant export licence applications to other Government Departments with an interest as determined by those Departments in line with their policy responsibilities. These include the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Ministry of Defence.
	Details of discussions with other Government Departments are exempt from disclosure under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Regeneration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by her Department; how much each scheme has available to invest; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997 (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough Councils and (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

Alan Johnson: The Department does not operate schemes which explicitly target urban regeneration, although most of those we operate are concerned with competitiveness and jobs, which contribute towards the regeneration of urban areas. In the majority of cases, it is not possible to disaggregate these schemes by area, since they are available nationally in both urban and rural areas.

Regeneration

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are in place to ensure joined up working to deliver the social regeneration and economic regeneration of the most deprived communities; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for Transport, Local Government and the Regions today at column 854W.

Renewable Energy

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's forecast is for growth in each type of renewable energy generation.

Brian Wilson: The Government do not make forecasts for growth in each type of renewable energy generation. How each type will contribute to overall targets for renewable energy will be a matter for the market. An assessment of various possible scenarios for the growth of different renewable energy technologies is made in a report produced for the Department of Trade and Industry in March 1999 entitled "New and Renewable Energy: Prospects in the UK for the 21 Century: Supporting Analysis." A copy is in the Libraries of the House.
	The Government have made projections for the total quantity of electricity they expect to be generated from all forms of generation eligible to benefit from the Renewables Obligation in years between now and 2010–11. That information is set out on page 23 of the Statutory Consultation Document on the Renewables Obligation published by my Department in August. A copy of that document, too, is in the Library.
	A list of the sources of energy eligible for the Renewables Obligation is on page 13 of the Statutory Consultation Document.

NETA

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Ofgem review of NETA on small generators' (a) profit and (b) output since the introduction of the scheme.

Brian Wilson: Ofgem's report to DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators issued on 31 August 2001, indicated that prices for the export of power from smaller generators had reduced by around 17 per cent. since the introduction of NETA. Ofgem also found export volumes reduced by 44 per cent. compared to a year previously. Ofgem suggested the lower export prices for electricity were one factor, but that higher costs (especially gas prices) may also have contributed.
	On 1 November 2001, I issued a consultation document in response to Ofgem's reports "The New Electricity Trading Arrangements—Review of the First Three Months" and "Report to the DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators" of 31 August 2001. This consultation closed on 1 December 2001.
	The Government's key proposals are, broadly,
	To ensure imbalance prices are genuinely cost reflective; and
	ensure that effective consolidation services emerge.
	Responses to the Government's consultation on NETA and smaller generators showed widespread support for the proposal to form a Consolidation Working Group. On 20 December 2001, I announced the formation of the Consolidation Working Group to look urgently at obstacles to consolidation services under the new electricity trading arrangements (NETA). I have asked the Consolidation Working Group to provide a final report by 31 January 2001.
	The Government are carefully considering responses on other proposals set out in their consultation document.

Regional Development Agencies

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish biographical details of each board member of each RDA in England, giving in each case the (a) party political links and (b) trade union links that each board member has had.

Alan Johnson: I announced the reappointed RDA board members to the House on 24 October 2001 and the new appointments to the RDA boards on 11 December 2001. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given in columns 250W and 758–59W respectively and to the biographical details of the board members I placed in the Libraries of the House in connection with those answers. These include details of any party political or trade union links the board members have.

Serco Assurance

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representation she has received from employees of Serco Assurance at Winfrith, Dorset, about the loss of full index linked pensions that they enjoyed while working for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Brian Wilson: None. This is a matter for Serco Assurance and AEA Technology.

Aerospace

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has conducted into Government research and technology support offered to the aerospace sector in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany, (c) the USA, (d) Canada and (e) France; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: In the UK, the DTI's civil aeronautics research programme supports long-term research in key aeronautics technologies by providing grants to industry, research organisations and universities. In March 2001, the then Secretary of State announced the continuation of this programme for five years covering the period from April 2001 to March 2006. Funding for 2001–02 is expected to total £20 million. Future funding of the Department's civil aeronautics research programmes will be determined alongside the funding of other DTI budgets as part of the Department's business support review and the Government's Spending Review 2002.
	Additionally, funding for the science base provided through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and related to aerospace research totalled around £14 million in 2000–01.
	The DTI also invests in the design and development of major civil aerospace programmes through launch investment. The most recent examples have been for Airbus UK to design and develop the wings for the Airbus A380 superjumbo programme (a Government investment of up to £530 million) and for Rolls-Royce to design and develop the Trent 900 engine for the A380 and the Trent 600 engine for potential future Boeing large aircraft (a Government investment of up to £250 million).
	As part of its Applied and Corporate Research Programmes and associated technology demonstrators, the Ministry of Defence spends about £120 million per annum on aerospace-related work for specific defence needs.
	We have no directly comparable information for the other countries listed but our best estimate of expenditure on civil aeronautics research equivalent to the UK's civil aircraft research programme is about £60 million for France and £100 million for Germany. These nations also provide Launch Investment for new civil aerospace developments.
	In the USA, aeronautical research activity funded through NASA totals several hundred million pounds annually though the USA does not provide Launch Investment for aerospace developments. Canada, under the "Technology Partnerships Canada" programme, has made repayable investments worth around £500 million in the last five years in aerospace and defence projects.

WALES

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the total unallocated funds within his departmental expenditure limit (a) at the start of the financial year and (b) to date; and what was the month seven forecast on outturn underspend against his departmental expenditure limit in (i) real and (ii) percentage terms.

Paul Murphy: My Departmental report, published in March 2001, shows the following allocation of spending for 2001–02 which has not changed since.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Pay bill and general administrative expenditure 2,279,000 
			 Lord Lieutenants' expenditure 30,000 
			 North Wales Child Abuse tribunal wind-up costs 546,000 
			 Receipts - 9,000 
			 Capitals 766,000 
			  
			 Total 3,612,000 
		
	
	At the mid year point my Department did not anticipate any appreciable underspend.

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress in 2001–02 with the target for response to correspondence within 15 days of receipt.

Paul Murphy: I have taken a number of measures, including better monitoring of performance; more rigorous enforcement of internal deadlines; and the appointment of an additional member of staff.

Fuel Poverty

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes in Wales are defined as fuel poor households; and how many of these include (i) pensioners and (ii) children.

Paul Murphy: holding answer 19 December 2001
	Housing issues in Wales are generally a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. However, the Government and devolved Administrations are working in partnership to tackle fuel poverty throughout the UK through the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy. One of the Government's initiatives in this area is the payment of winter fuel payments, now at £200 a year, helping up to 460,000 pensioner households in Wales.
	The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy did not provide statistics on households in Wales in the form requested. However, using a proxy of households in Wales eligible for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (based on the Welsh House Condition Survey 1997–98), the strategy estimated that of the approximately 222,000 such households in Wales, 117,000 contain at least one person over the age of 60; 40,000 are lone parents; 32,000 contain at least one person who is sick or disabled and 33,000 are other forms of households with children.
	The Assembly are considering a possible general household survey in 2003 which will contain one element to cover fuel poverty.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers.

Paul Murphy: None.

SCOTLAND

Local Bodies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list those local bodies which were set up under legislation which is the responsibility of her Department since May 1997.

Helen Liddell: For the period between May 1997 and 30 June 1999 there were no local public spending bodies set up under legislation which was the responsibility of the former Scottish Office.
	The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. There have been no local public spending bodies set up since that date.

New Deal (Young People)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed by the Department under the new deal for young people; and at what cost to public funds.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Out of five staff employed under the new deal, the Department has employed one person under the new deal for young people but there are currently no staff in post in this category. New deal recruits take up existing vacancies so extra costs are limited to the subsidy, where appropriate, and any additional training and development which may be needed. The cost of the subsidy to the Scotland Office was £2,860. The cost of training and development cannot readily be identified.

Departmental Staff (Home Working)

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps her Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis.

Helen Liddell: A number of alternative working patterns, including home working, are available to staff in the Scotland Office. Currently no staff within the Scotland Office work permanently from home, although some do so on an occasional basis. In a recent survey staff were invited to declare an interest in alternative working. My Department is considering the survey results with a view to setting up pilot studies into a number of alternative working patterns.

Channel Tunnel

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the effects on Scotland of the SNCF restriction of channel tunnel rail freight services.

Helen Liddell: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answers given by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson), on 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 225W.
	This is a matter of considerable concern to the Government. It is having a severe impact on cross-channel rail freight operators and their customers in Scotland and in other parts of the UK.
	The Government are working at all levels with the French authorities to try and resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

Golden Jubilee

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has for celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: All of Scotland, including myself, will celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Details of Her Majesty's programme in Scotland will be made available to the House in due course.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been reported in her Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers.

Helen Liddell: The procedures for making complaints under the civil service code are set out in the Department's staff handbook. Civil servants are encouraged, in the first instance, to raise complaints made under paragraph 11 of the civil service code with their line manager. IF for any reason this is not felt to be possible, perhaps because the line manager is part of the complaint, individuals may take their complaint to a nominated official (or officials). It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the number of complaints made within this Department under paragraph 11 of the code as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre details of complaints made under the civil service code which are resolved within the management line.

"Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland"

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date she received the Scottish Executive document, "Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland"; and on what date she publicised its contents.

Helen Liddell: A joint Scottish Executive/Scotland Office News Release was issued, along with the Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) Report, on 17 December 2001.
	Consistent with normal practice, advance copies of the final text of the GERS report were available prior to publication, on 12 December.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Ministerial Duties

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Solicitor-General in what matters she deputises for the Attorney-General.

Harriet Harman: The Law Officers Act 1977 provides that any function of the Attorney-General may be exercised by the Solicitor-General. I therefore deputise for the Attorney-General across the range of his responsibilities.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Euro

Paul Flynn: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what arrangements are being made for the use of euro notes and coins in restaurants and souvenir shops in the House.

Archy Kirkwood: Many UK businesses, particularly those serving tourists from overseas, already accept payment in foreign currencies, including the euro. However, the House's restaurants and souvenir shops provide services primarily to Members and staff who work here, and to constituents visiting the House. The Refreshment Department is therefore not planning to accept payment for its catering or retail services in euros or any other foreign currency.
	However, the hon. Member will have noted from the Administration Committee's First Report on the 2001 trial opening of the Summer Line of Route (HC 433 of Session 2001–02) that at least 50 per cent. of the 86,000 visits last year came from overseas. If the Committee's recommendation that the summer opening of the Line of Route become a permanent feature is accepted, the potential benefits, costs and risks of accepting payment for tickets, souvenirs and refreshments in foreign currencies, including the euro, will be considered for this project.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2001, to what extent the commitment to provide the resources required to support the role of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will be judged by (a) the Commission, (b) by the internal auditors and (c) by the Commissioner.

Archy Kirkwood: The Commission will base its judgment on the findings of the review which it has asked the Internal Review Service to carry out. In reaching that judgment, the Commission will take full account of the views both of the Chairman of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, and of the incoming Commissioner for Standards, as to the expected workload and the resources required.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 2W, on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, when the Chairman of the Commission was first told the letter dated 28 November had been openly made available to the media on the afternoon of Tuesday 4 December; and when he was first told that some of its contents had been confirmed on the forenoon.

Archy Kirkwood: The Speaker knew on the morning of 4 December that his office was confirming media reports that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards had written to him informing him that she did not wish to apply for reappointment but that his office was also making clear that the text of the letter would not be released. The Speaker was informed later that day that the text had become available to the media from other sources.

Parliamentary Proceedings (Webcast)

Marion Roe: To ask the Chairman of the Broadcasting Committee how the pilot project to webcast parliamentary proceedings on the internet may be viewed within the parliamentary estate.

David Lepper: The House of Commons and House of Lords are starting to webcast coverage of some debates on the internet. This is a pilot project, to be assessed at the end of 2002, aimed at making the work of Parliament more accessible to people unable to visit Westminster. The webcasts largely duplicate the coverage already available on the internal Annunciator system and in this test environment, during the pilot project, they will not be accessible via the Parliamentary Data and Video Network (PDVN). However, from next week viewing facilities will be available in the e-library of the House of Commons and, I understand, also in the Queen's Room in the Library of the House of Lords.

Portcullis House (Water Feature)

Norman Baker: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee on how many days since Portcullis House opened the water feature has been (a) operational and (b) out of operation.

Derek Conway: A leak developed last summer after the water feature had operated successfully for some 12 months. This has resulted in the water feature being switched off for most of the time since the summer recess. Following protracted discussions a way to resolve the problem has now been agreed with the company that has taken over the responsibilities of the original contractor, who is no longer in business. This will lead to the leak being repaired at the least possible cost to the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Staff

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of (a) his Department and (b) agencies sponsored by his Department work in (i) London, (ii) areas benefiting from EU Objective 1 status, (iii) areas with objective 2 status and (iv) other areas.

Jane Kennedy: As at January 2001, based on full-time equivalents, there were 1,539 staff from the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) employed by the Department and 195 staff from the Home Civil Service (HCS). These figures can be broken down as follows:
	(a) the Department
	(i) there were 8 NICS staff and 119 HCS staff in London;
	(ii) there were 727 NICS staff and 63 HCS staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 1 status;
	(iii) there were no staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 2 status;
	(iv) there were 2 NICS staff and 2 HCS staff in other areas
	(b) agencies sponsored by the Department
	(i) there were 0 staff in London;
	(ii) there were 622 NICS staff and 11 HCS staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 1 status;
	(iii) there were no staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 2 status;
	(iv) there were no staff in other areas.

Rubber/Plastic Bullets

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) rubber and (b) plastic bullets have been used since their introduction; how many have been purchased in each year and at what cost; and how many have been purchased since publication of the Patten report and at what cost.

Jane Kennedy: The tables give details of the number of baton rounds used by the police, since separate police recording began in 1981.
	
		
			 Year Police use of baton rounds 
		
		
			 1981 19,649 
			 1982 335 
			 1983 545 
			 1984 1,503 
			 1985 906 
			 1986 1,462 
			 1987 1,908 
			 1988 2,292 
			 1989 836 
			 1990 211 
			 1991 235 
			 1992 39 
			 1993 497 
			 1994 214 
			 1995 273 
			 1996 6,949 
			 1997 2,527 
			 1998 1,236 
			 1999 111 
			 2000 22 
			 2001 (21 November) 89 
		
	
	The Chief Constable has informed me that details of the costs in relation to the purchase of baton rounds, and the number purchased prior to 1995, are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table gives details of the number of baton rounds purchased by the Royal Ulster Constabulary each year from 1995:
	
		
			  Year Baton rounds purchased by police 
		
		
			 1995 25,200 
			 1996 60,875 
			 1997 33,900 
			 1998 75,227 
			 1999 50,400 
			 2000 76,320 
			 2001 46,000 
		
	
	Since publication of the Patten Report the Royal Ulster Constabulary has purchased 122,320 baton rounds, and to date the Police Service of Northern Ireland has not purchased any baton rounds.

Omagh Bombing

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in seeking to identify the source of the leak of the Northern Ireland police ombudsman's unfinished report into the Omagh bombing; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We have no plans for such an investigation.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Freedom of Information Act

Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he has taken to co-ordinate the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Government Departments.

Michael Wills: Overall responsibility for implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 rests with the Lord Chancellor as Head of the Department with lead responsibility for the legislation. The Lord Chancellor chairs the Cabinet sub-committee on Freedom of Information and Data Protection, of which Ministers from all central Government Departments are members.
	Two interdepartmental officials groups have been set up to support the Ministerial committee. The Senior Group on Freedom of Information and Data Protection consists of those senior officials from across Whitehall, and the devolved Administrations, who have responsibility for implementing Freedom of Information and Data Protection in their organisations. The group meets every three months and has been set up to look at major implementation questions affecting central Government.
	The senior group is supported by the Practitioner's Group on Freedom of Information. It consists of officials with day to day knowledge of open Government and implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in their respective Departments. The function of this group is to address common issues related to the implementation of the legislation. The group also acts as a forum for sharing best practice and helps to ensure consistency in approach across central Government.

Private Landlord Evictions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what figures he has collated on how many people have been (a) legally and (b) illegally evicted by private landlords in each of the last 10 years.

Michael Wills: Information concerning the number of evictions by private landlords, either legally or illegally, is not collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For information purposes, figures concerning the number of possession orders granted by the courts to private landlords during the last 10 years are provided in the table. It should be noted however, that these orders would not necessarily have resulted in an actual eviction.
	
		Possession orders granted to private landlords(3)
		
			  Suspended Immediate 
		
		
			 2000 5,116 8,265 
			 1999 6,381 8,568 
			 1998 8,753 8,586 
			 1997 8,881 8,495 
			 1996 8,296 8,970 
			 1995 6,785 8,833 
			 1994 5,553 8,258 
			 1993 4,048 7,562 
			 1992 4,094 9,739 
			 1991 5,074 10,361 
		
	
	(3) Does not necessarily result in an eviction

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were employed in her Department in each of the last four years.

Kim Howells: The average number of staff employed in the Department is set out in the table.
	
		
			 Year Staff employed 
		
		
			 1998 365 
			 1999 388 
			 2000 397 
			 2001 420 
		
	
	The figures for 2001 include staff transferred from the Home Office and Cabinet Office as part of Machinery of Government changes.

Public Libraries

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many libraries (a) nationally and (b) in the Buckingham constituency are linked to the National Grid for Learning;
	(2)  how many library service points (a) nationally and (b) in the Buckingham constituency are internet connected; and what the figures were in 1997.

Kim Howells: All public libraries connected to the internet have access to the National Grid for Learning. Currently 2,782 public libraries are connected to the internet, which constitutes 67 per cent. of all public libraries in the UK. 100 per cent. will be connected by the end of 2002. In Buckinghamshire library authority all 36 public libraries are connected to the internet, of which eight are in Buckingham constituency. Figures for Buckingham in 1997 are unavailable, but nationally 184 libraries had public internet access in that year.

J. M. W. Turner

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are to commemorate the 150th anniversary of J. M. W. Turner's death; and what plans there are to create a single national collection of his works.

Kim Howells: To commemorate the 150th anniversary of J. M. W. Turner's death, Tate Britain staged an exhibition from 5 March to 15 July 2001, focusing on the contents of Turner's own gallery. To mark the anniversary Tate Britain is also currently featuring in its anniversary display area an example of Turner's views of Venice, which was also one of the first of his works to enter the national collection.
	The Royal Academy held a major commemorative exhibition of Turner's finished watercolours from 2 December 2000 until 18 February 2001 to commemorate the anniversary. Most of the exhibits were lent by other national and international institutions with over 40 works on loan from private collections.
	A single holding of the works from Turner's bequest to the nation was made possible with the opening of the Clore Wing at the Tate Gallery (now Tate Britain) in 1987. Although other collections in the UK continue to hold and display works by the artist, this represents the largest single national collection of Turner's work, where works may be viewed and studied in depth.

Older People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out for each of the conclusions in section 6.4 of the Performance and Innovation Unit report, "Winning the Generation Game", (a) what progress her Department has made and (b) what future plans her Department has for acting on them; and if she will set out against each of the conclusions the targets and deadlines that have been set.

Kim Howells: holding answer 19 December 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 335W. We have recently replied to Cabinet Office requests for information, and our position in respect of the conclusions in section 6.4 of the PIU report will be included in the report of the overall situation.

Euro

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what efforts her Department (a) has made and (b) is planning to put into effect to assist the English tourist industry to deal with the effects of the introduction of the euro.

Kim Howells: The British Tourist Authority (BTA), working with the UK's tourism industry, issued guidance entitled "The Euro and your Business". The guide contains information on the euro, a checklist of action points and advice on authenticating banknotes.
	The leaflet was revised in November as "The euro—A guide for small tourism businesses". Copies are available from the BTA and it is published on their website www.tourismtrade.org.uk/home.htm. Further guidance will be issued if we find it is needed.

Hotel Charges

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she monitors prices charged by private hotels for accommodation in different regions of the United Kingdom.

Kim Howells: Pricing policy is a commercial decision for each hotel operator in light of prevailing market forces. Therefore, DCMS does not monitor prices charged by individual accommodation providers. However, my Department is concerned with price transparency and the need for guests to be able to form a judgment about how much it will cost them before purchasing a room. The Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price Display) Order 1977 requires hotels to display in their reception areas or entrances the highest and lowest prices for each type of room (e.g. single, double etc.) and those prices must include, where appropriate, any service charge or meals and whether VAT is included.

Sports Strategy

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the implications of the proposed restriction on coaching set out in the Charity Commissioners' Guidelines at paragraph 18 of Annex B in the Treasury's Consultation Document, "Promoting Sport in the Community for the Government's Sports Strategy".

Richard Caborn: The Government are currently consulting on their view that the Charity Commission's decision on charitable status would appear to offer better prospects for community amateur sports clubs than a tax relief package the Government had been considering. Responses to that consultation are requested by the Treasury by 1 February 2002. I intend to meet representatives of the Charity Commission shortly to discuss the extent of applications from sport for charitable status and the fuller guidance the Commission intends to issue on this subject in due course. These discussions will include the need for greater clarity on a range of issues in the current guidance including the treatment of different levels of skill among participants at sports clubs seeking charitable status.
	It is the Government's understanding that all skill levels can be catered for by a sports club promoting healthy recreation which obtains charitable status but that such a commitment will not rule out selection of teams on merit and/or different coaching offered to different ability levels. The Commission recognises that the provision of coaching to regional, national and international standards often acts as an incentive to other less able players to improve and/or to attract new people to the club.

Online Gambling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the Budd report recommendation to prevent under-age online gambling will be implemented; who will police it; how it will be policed; what the role of Ofcom will be; and how a child's age can be verified online.

Richard Caborn: We have not yet reached decisions on the recommendations contained in the report of the Gambling Review Body. We are fully aware of the potential risks of underage gambling and will take them into account before announcing our conclusions.

Max Mosley

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what dates (a) she and (b) others in her Department have (i) met, (ii) spoken by telephone to and (iii) written to the President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile; and if she will place a copy of the notes of such communications in the Library.

Richard Caborn: I met Max Mosley, President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, on 12 December 2001 to discuss arrangements for the 2002 British Grand Prix at Silverstone as well as wider proposals for the long-term development of the circuit. I have had no other recent contact with Mr. Mosley. This was a private discussion at which a range of motor racing issues was discussed, and I do not propose to place the notes of the meeting in the House Library.

Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will give a substantive answer to a letter from Dr. Paul Arnison-Newgass of Dartmouth, Devon, a constituent, and which was forwarded to her parliamentary correspondence unit for reply.

Richard Caborn: I received the hon. Gentleman's letter on 13 December 2001 and I replied to him on 5 January 2002.

TREASURY

Manufacturing

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in manufacturing were lost between the second quarter of 1997 and the latest date for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 9 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the reduction in the number of manufacturing jobs since the second quarter of 1997. I am replying in his absence. (25293).
	The table below shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for the second quarter of 1997 and August-October 2001 (three-month rolling averages) for comparative purposes.
	
		Seasonally adjustedThousand 
		
			 UK Number  
		
		
			 April to June 1997 4,166 
			 August to October 2001 372 
			 Change between April to June 1997 and August to October 2001 -374 (-9.0%) 
		
	
	These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website under series identifier LOMN.

Analytical Methodology

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the different methods of analysis of gross domestic fixed capital formation used by (a) the Treasury and (b) the Central Statistical Office in the national accounts.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 9 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the different methods of analysis of gross domestic fixed capital formation used by (a) the Treasury and (b) the Central Statistical Office in the national accounts. I am replying in his absence. (25299)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles estimates of gross fixed capital formation for the national accounts in line with international guidance and definitions as set out in the European System of Accounts 1995. The Treasury use these estimates in their forecasts and other analyses.

Shareholders

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total value of shares were owned by individuals and what the total value was (a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) in each year since 1992.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 9 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the ownership of shares. I am replying in his absence. (25298)
	The Office for National Statistics conducts a Share Ownership survey. The most recent available data is for the 31st December 2000, and was published in "Share Ownership", which can be downloaded free from the National Statistics Website (www.statistics.gov.uk). This publication gives details of the value of shares held by private individuals (table B) and the percentage of the total stockmarket owned by value (table A) for all years in which a survey was conducted (1989–1994 and 1997–2000).

Revenue Report

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the annual report by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the year ending 31 March 2001 will be published.

Andrew Smith: The Inland Revenue annual report for the year ending 31 March 2001 was published on 18 December 2001.

Tax Credits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 199W, if the impact on business of the Tax Credits Bill will be known before he has announced the relevant rates and tapers in the 2002 Budget.

Andrew Smith: A Regulatory Impact Assessment was published, together with the Tax Credits Bill, on 29 November.

Tax Credits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 199W, when he will publish the evaluation of the updating of the impact of the working families tax credit and disabled person's tax credit.

Andrew Smith: Evaluation findings will be published in due course.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on where the Treasury will source the funding for the increase in the net cash requirement of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the Winter Supplementary Estimates.

Andrew Smith: Funding for the increase in the net cash requirement of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the Winter Supplementary Estimate will be from the Consolidated Fund.

Working Families Tax Credit

David Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the working families tax credit on the income levels of the poorest working families in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency.

Andrew Smith: The working families tax credit (WFTC) is a success in making work pay for families with children. At August 2001 WFTC was helping 1,270,000 families. This is 52 per cent. more families than were benefiting from family credit at its peak, and families were receiving on average around an extra £35 per week. In the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency 1,893 families with children were benefiting from WFTC at August 2001.

Working Families Tax Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 33W, on working families tax credit, how many families had an increase in net income due to the working families tax credit regime of (a) 0 to 10 per cent., (b) 10 to 20 per cent., (c) 100 to 110 per cent., (d) 110 to 120 per cent., (e) 120 to 130 per cent., (f) 130 to 140 per cent. and (g) 140 to 150 per cent.

Andrew Smith: It is estimated from the Family Resources Survey that, under the working families tax credit (WFTC) regime applying to awards starting from June 2001, the numbers of such families are about (a) 400,000 and (b) 270,000. The sample size is too small to yield any reliable estimates for (c) to (g) except those provided in the answer given to my right hon. Friend on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 203W.
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are derived from 1999–2000 FRS with incomes projected forward to 2001–02 and assuming the 2001–02 regimes for income tax and national insurance contributions. They are subject to sampling error.
	2. Increase in net income is defined as final net income less initial net income, assuming no behavioural change. Final net income is income as projected, including estimated entitlement to WFTC, housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB). Initial net income is this less the estimated entitlement to WFTC, plus any consequent increase in estimated entitlement to HB and CTB.

International Tax Recoveries

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 374W, 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 360W, 30 November 2001, Official Report, column 1217W, and 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 28W, on international tax recoveries and with specific regard to the table analysing recoveries, 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 375W, how much was recovered in total under all heads of recovery in the year ending 31 March 2000 from taxpayers falling in all the bands from less than £1 million to £10 million to £50 million inclusive.

Andrew Smith: International tax recoveries are analysed as follows:
	
		£ million 
		
			 Band Recovered 
		
		
			 Less than £1 million 21 
			 £1 million to £10 million 117 
			 £10 million to £50 million 244 
			 £50 million to £100 million 210 
		
	
	The written answer of 25 October indicated that there were no cases in the £50 million to £100 million category: in fact there were three.

Urban Regeneration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by his Department; how much each scheme has available to invest; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997 (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils and (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

Ruth Kelly: No schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are currently managed, or have been managed since 1997, by the Chancellor's Departments and agencies.

Biofuels

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to lower the duty on biodiesel to the same rate of tax as that levied on road fuel gases; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to lower the duty on bioethanol fuel; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on encouraging the use of biofuels.

Paul Boateng: Duty rates are reviewed annually as part of the Budget process. We have already announced that, subject to European agreement, we will introduce a lower rate of excise duty on biodiesel later this year, to be set at 20p per litre below the rate for ultra-low sulphur diesel.

Film Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the beneficiaries were of tax breaks to the film industry in the last 12 months; and what sums were involved.

Andrew Smith: The estimated tax cost of relief provided to British qualifying films in 2000–01 under section 48 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1997 was £90 million. We estimate that a further £50 million was provided under section 42 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992. Without sections 48 and 42 we estimate that the amount of tax relief given to the film industry would be halved. The names of the recipients of the tax relief cannot be disclosed on the grounds of taxpayer confidentiality.

Industrial and Provident Societies

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by local authority area those industrial and provident societies with registered addresses in London.

Ruth Kelly: The information is not readily available.

Oils Fraud (Northern Ireland)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met his Irish counterpart to discuss action against oils fraud in Northern Ireland; and what the outcome of those discussions was.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 266W.

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment HM Customs has made of the volume of trade into the United Kingdom of bushmeat.

Paul Boateng: Import controls designed to protect animal and human health are the responsibility of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, port, airport and local health authorities, and the Food Standards Agency. Customs supports and co-operates with these lead agencies both in joint exercises and by seizing illicit meat when discovered in customs checks. Customs statistics do not distinguish between bushmeat and other meat imports, but the total amount of illicit meat seized by Customs in the year ending 31 March 2001 was 2.655 metric tonnes. This does not include seizures by the lead agencies in joint exercises with Customs.

Tobacco Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the Customs target for 2000–01 for asset seizures resulting from action against tobacco smuggling; what was the sum total of such asset seizures in that year; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: As part of the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy, Customs were set a target for the level of asset seizures for 2000–01 of £15 million. Customs' performance against this and other subsidiary targets of the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy will be set out in Customs annual report for 2000–01.

Euro

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the flexibility to cope with economic change of EU institutions and economies within the euro zone in his assessment of the economic tests for UK adoption of the euro.

Ruth Kelly: The Government have set out five economic tests which must be met before any decision to join can be made. An assessment of the five tests will be made within two years of the start of this Parliament. The assessment will be comprehensive and rigorous.

African Trypanosomosis

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the tax exemptions for research into diseases of the developing world announced in the 2001 Budget will include African trypanosomosis.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor announced consultation on a new tax credit to stimulate research into the development of vaccines and drugs to combat malaria, TB and strains of AIDS/HIV most prevalent in the developing world in Budget 2001. During the consultation period, a number of other diseases—including trypanosomosis—were suggested as suitable candidates for the proposed new tax credit. All such suggestions have been fully considered and an announcement on the scope of the proposed tax credit will be made in Budget 2002.
	Companies undertaking research into trypanosomosis will be eligible for either the relief for research expenditure by small and medium sized companies (SMEs) introduced in Finance Act 2000 or for the new relief for research expenditure by companies other than SMEs to be introduced in Finance Bill 2002.

Parliamentary Questions

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written parliamentary questions to his Department in the past 12 months had not received a full answer within five weeks of the question being tabled.

Paul Boateng: Treasury Ministers answered 3,070 written questions in the House of Commons in 2001, 73 per cent. on or before the due date. In 23 cases (0.7 per cent. of the total) full answers were not provided within five weeks of the question being tabled.

Tax Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations for tax fraud were carried out in each year since 1997; and what was the success rate of those investigations.

Andrew Smith: The Inland Revenue carries out inquiries, as opposed to investigations, into tax returns as part of its work in tackling non-compliance. At the outset of any inquiry there is no assumption as to whether a return is incorrect and/or incomplete and, therefore, no assumption about the existence or otherwise of fraud or negligence. While the majority of inquiries are undertaken on the basis of a perceived compliance risk this is not true of all inquiries and a successful inquiry is one that is carried out thoroughly and in accordance with appropriate codes of practice.
	Detailed information about the number of inquiries undertaken in each year and the additional liabilities established as a result of the Revenue's work in tackling non-compliance is set out in the Inland Revenue annual report for each year, available in the House of Commons Library.

Treasury Publications

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to make all Treasury publications available to hon. Members through the Vote Office.

Ruth Kelly: All significant documents which are published by the Treasury are made available to Members through the Vote Office and are also deposited in the Library of the House. Members can also obtain these and other Treasury publications from the Treasury, if they wish.

VAT

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT inspection visits are planned for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2001–02.

Paul Boateng: Customs plan to make 245,000 inspection events during 2001–02. These risk-based inspections may take the form of a visit, or contact by telephone and fax to resolve specific issues arising.
	Plans for 2002–03 are not finalised.

VAT

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from how many businesses Customs and Excise have withdrawn use of the VAT cash accounting scheme in each of the last five years for which statistics are available; and how many businesses entering the scheme in each year have withdrawn from it at the order of Customs and Excise.

Paul Boateng: Businesses do not require approval from Customs to use the cash accounting scheme. Customs may withdraw use of the scheme in cases of abuse or to protect the revenue, but these instances are rare. No record is kept of the number of businesses removed from the scheme.

Terrorist Organisations

Jim Murphy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will freeze the assets of organisations in the United Kingdom that finance (a) Hamas, (b) Fatah and (c) other Palestinian and middle east terrorist organisations.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are committed to the fight against terrorism and since the events of 11 September 2001 have led by example in issuing asset freeze lists against individuals and organisations. A total of £72 million has been frozen in connection with groups involved in financing terrorist activities.
	The Government imposed a freeze on the assets held in the UK for the Holy Land Foundation, which is suspected of financing terrorist activities of Hamas, on 6 December 2001.
	Where there are "reasonable grounds to suspect" that any organisation is involved in the financing of terrorism the Government will not hesitate to add their name to the 328 individuals and organisations who have already been targeted with assets freezes.

Earnings Statistics

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings of full-time employees were in the Buckingham constituency in the most recent years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 9 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the average earnings of full-time employees in the Buckingham constituency. I am replying in his absence. (24869)
	The New Earnings Survey (NES) shows that in April 2000, the average weekly earnings for full-time employees on adult rates, whose pay was not affected by absence, were £412.3 in the Buckingham constituency.
	For previous years' data, I refer you to the NES Part E, Table E18, available in the House of Commons Library.

Pensions

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the savings to the Exchequer which would result from restricting the tax relief to individuals on (a) defined benefit, (b) defined contribution, (c) group personal and (d) personal pensions to a level that would provide an income in retirement just above benefit levels; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The number of assumptions that would need to be made and the complexity of the modelling procedures involved means that a robust estimate could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are being held in Northern Ireland in each (a) prison and (b) other location permitted to do so.

Angela Eagle: The latest available information on the number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 September 2001. As at that date, the only establishment in Northern Ireland that held Immigration Act detainees who had claimed asylum at some stage was Her Majesty's Prison Maghaberry, at which less than five such persons were being held.
	Information on immigration detainees as at 31 December 2001 will be published on 28 February 2002 on the Home Office web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been detained for more than six months in Northern Ireland.

Angela Eagle: The available information relates to persons detained under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September 2001. As at that date, there were no persons who had sought asylum at some stage who have been detained for more than six months in Northern Ireland.
	Information on immigration detainees as at 31 September 2001 will be published on 28 February 2002 on the Home Office web site at http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals seeking asylum in the UK have been located in the Buckingham constituency since the introduction of the Government's dispersal policy.

Angela Eagle: Figures are not available by constituency for those asylum seekers accommodated by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).
	Statistics from NASS for the end of September 2001, show that 600 1 2 asylum seekers (including dependants) were being supported in NASS accommodation in the South Central region, which includes the Buckingham constituency
	1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10
	2 Cases which have had their support ceased are excluded from this figure.

Asylum Seekers

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 16 years from overseas countries have entered the UK during the last 12 months and have claimed political asylum on entry.

Angela Eagle: During the last 12 months (September 2000 to August 2001), 2,002 applications for asylum were lodged at United Kingdom ports by unaccompanied children, under the age of 18. I regret that this information is not available for children under the age of 16.
	Reliable information on the number of children who have entered the United Kingdom as asylum seekers, accompanied by an adult, is not readily available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum Seekers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of asylum seekers had degrees in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only by examining individual case records and by consulting the asylum seekers themselves, and it is, therefore available only at disproportionate cost.

Iranians

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances Iranian citizens with family in the United Kingdom are allowed to visit the country.

Angela Eagle: The Immigration Rules make provision for visits to the United Kingdom. To qualify for entry to the United Kingdom as a visitor, applications must demonstrate that they are genuinely seeking entry as a visitor for the period stated, that they have sufficient funds to support and accommodate themselves and any dependants without working or recourse to public funds, and that they will leave the United Kingdom at the end of the visit. The maximum period allowed for a visit is six months. Iranian nationals need to obtain a visa before travelling to the United Kingdom.

UK Citizenship

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the standard of proficiency in spoken English from ethnic minorities who seek citizenship of the United Kingdom should attain as a norm of acceptability.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 13 December 2001
	The British Nationality Act 1981 requires applicants for naturalisation, except where married to British citizens, to have sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. Applicants who are able to make simple conversation and communicate well enough to deal with everyday situations are considered to meet this requirement. The requirements for British nationality, including the language requirement, are currently under review and the Government will announce their conclusions in a forthcoming asylum, immigration and nationality White Paper.

Legal Assistance (Russia)

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for legal assistance in criminal investigations were received from Russia in (a) 2000 and (b) to date; how many responses have been made to these requests to date; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: In 2000, 24 requests were received from Russia. Of these, seven requests were executed, eight were transferred to other authorities to execute, six remain under consideration and three were returned as we were unable to execute them. 62 requests were received in 2001. Of these, nine requests have been executed, 26 remain under consideration, 24 were transferred to other authorities to execute and three were returned as we were unable to execute them.

Tagging

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners who were initially released from prison under the tagging system have committed further offences following their release from the tagging system;
	(2)  how many prisoners who have been released from prison under the tagging system have committed offences while tagged.

Beverley Hughes: As of 30 November 2001, a total of 42,853 prisoners had been released on Home Detention Curfew (tagging) since the scheme commenced on 28 January 1999. Of these, 893 (2 per cent.) are reported to have been convicted, cautioned or awaiting prosecution for offences committed while they were subject to the scheme. Information relating to the number of prisoners released on Home Detention Curfew and who commit offences after their period on the scheme has expired is not held centrally.

Murder Victims (Young People)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the age groups (a) 0 to 7, (b) 8 to 13 and (c) 14 to 18 years were murdered in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and in each age group how many were killed by (i) a family member, (ii) someone known to them and (iii) a stranger.

Keith Bradley: The information requested for England and Wales is given in the table. Data are given for currently recorded homicides. Family member includes current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover. Stranger includes those cases where the relationship is not known or where there is no suspect.
	
		
			 Relationship victim to suspect 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Age of victim 0–7 years  
			 Family member 50 43 53 45 65 
			 Someone known to them 4 11 11 0 1 
			 Stranger 6 5 8 8 11 
			 Total 60 59 72 53 77 
			   
			 Age of victim 8–13 years  
			 Family member 6 3 6 6 10 
			 Someone known to them 1 1 0 1 2 
			 Stranger 3 4 3 6 2 
			 Total 10 8 9 13 14 
			   
			 Age of victim 14–18 years  
			 Family member 9 7 6 3 14 
			 Someone known to them 12 11 27 13 16 
			 Stranger 22 11 15 20 22 
			 Total 43 29 48 36 52 
		
	
	Note:
	As at 3 October 2001; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.
	Homicide Statistics are published annually in Chapter 4 of 'Criminal Statistics England and Wales'. Data are published on a calendar year basis up to 1997 and a financial year basis from 1997–98. The latest statistics relating to 2000–01 were published in December 2001 in 'Criminal Statistics England and Wales 2000'.

Prisoners (Drug Testing)

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of days added to sentences on the basis of positive mandatory drug tests on prisoners was in each of the last five years for (a) cannabis, (b) opiates, (c) cocaine and (d) benzodiazepines.

Beverley Hughes: Statistics on numbers of days added to sentence by different drug type are not collated centrally. The total number of added days awarded for prisoners found guilty of unauthorised use of a controlled drug are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Number added days 
		
		
			 1996 106,942 
			 1997 106,824 
			 1998 107,517 
			 1999 103,786 
			 2000 100,801

Prostitution

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications of the Jany v. Staatsecretaris van Justitie case of the European Court of Justice Case C 268/99 published on 11 December, with particular reference to (a) the implication of access to the United Kingdom of prostitutes from Poland and Czech Republic and Slovakia and (b) the implications of right of establishment under Article 43 of the Treaty.

Angela Eagle: This ruling, along with the cases of Gloszczuk, Kondova, Barkoci and Malik, was welcomed by the United Kingdom Government. A detailed assessment of its implications is being made but our view is that the United Kingdom can continue to apply its Immigration Rules in such cases (paragraphs 211–223 of HC 395). Importantly, the rulings support our view that those here illegally cannot benefit from the association agreements.
	The provisions on self-establishment in the association agreements are subject to limitations justified on the ground of public policy. A member state is entitled to rely on the public policy limitation in relation to those seeking to establish themselves in its territory under the agreements as self-employed prostitutes where that member state has adopted measures designed to combat prostitution carried out by its own nations.
	Living off immoral earnings (pimping) and soliciting for prostitution are criminal offences under United Kingdom law and will continue to be prosecutable by the courts regardless of the nationality of the prostitute in question. We will rely on the public policy limitation to prevent Polish, Czech or Slovak nationals from establishing themselves as self-employed prostitutes in the United Kingdom under the association agreements.
	The right of establishment under the Article 43 of the EC Treaty is effected by EC Council Directive 73/148, which deals with the abolition of restrictions on movement and residence within the EU for nationals of member states with regard to establishment and the provision of services. Article 8 of that directive allows member states to derogate from the provisions of the directive on the grounds of public policy. We would seek to rely on that provision should a national of a member state seek to enter or live in the United Kingdom as a prostitute.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Immigration and Nationality Department to be able to accept e-mails from hon. Members.

Angela Eagle: In accordance with guidelines of the Office of the e-Envoy the Home Office has published its e-Business Strategy on the internet. Progress by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate towards the e-Government targets on electronic information and service provision for 2005 are set out within that strategy and in Appendix A.
	The body of the strategy can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ebusiness/stratmain.pdf. The appendices are at: http:///.homeoffice.gov.uk/ ebusiness/stratapp.pdf.
	MORI has recently been commissioned to survey the experiences and expectations, including preferences on electronic service provision, of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's customers. In the light of that survey, in which Members of Parliament will be invited to participate, further consideration will be given to the options and time scale for receipt of e-mail from hon. Members.

People Trafficking

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far the UK has fulfilled its commitments under the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons.

Angela Eagle: The United Kingdom signed the Trafficking Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime, which requires the specific criminalisation of trafficking in human beings in December 2000.
	The Government are currently negotiating a European Union (EU) Framework Decision, which is a binding European Union instrument. It contains most of the provisions in the United Nations (UN) Protocol and in certain aspects is more wide-ranging. The Government are committed to making it a criminal offence to traffic in human beings for the purposes of labour or sexual exploitation and is currently examining suitable legislative vehicles to facilitate this and other new offences on people trafficking. Under the provisions of the EU Framework Decision, the United Kingdom will be required to have implemented the instrument within two years of its adoption.
	The UK is also contributing to the EU STOP programme, which was set up by a joint action of the European Council in 1996. This programme provides support to member state organisations responsible for action against the trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children. A European Council decision of 28 June 2001 established a second phase of this programme (STOP II).
	As part of a multi-faceted approach, the protocol also requires work to be done to prevent people trafficking. We are in the process of drawing up a cross-departmental strategic approach to people trafficking that will include a comprehensive programme on prevention and the care of potential and actual people trafficking victims. In the last year, the Government funded overseas projects to tackle people trafficking in Turkey, Thailand and Cambodia. We have also contributed £200,000 to an Organisation and Security Co-operation in Europe fund to help the victims of trafficking and raise awareness of the dangers among vulnerable groups.
	In addition, we set up Project REFLEX last year, a multi-agency task force chaired by the National Crime Squad, to co-ordinate action against organised immigration crime, including people trafficking, and to develop the intelligence and strategic planning to underpin them. It is now well established and has already resulted in some major successes involving partners overseas, by disrupting organised criminal groups involved in bringing people to the United Kingdom.

People Trafficking

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in relation to the recommendations in his Department's report, "Stopping Traffic", published in 2000.

Angela Eagle: The Home Office report "Stopping Traffic" assessed the extent of trafficking in women for the purposes of sexual exploitation and the law enforcement responses to the problem in the United Kingdom. In response, the Government are currently drawing up a coherent and comprehensive cross- Departmental strategy to address people trafficking on a national and international scale. The Government response will go beyond the report to address both sexual and labour exploitation of victims of trafficking and will engage a broad range of Government Departments and law enforcement agencies with interest in this area.
	The Government are committed to putting in place effective measures to combat the trafficking of human beings and to penalise those engaged in this abhorrent practice. To this end, the United Kingdom has signed the Trafficking Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime, which requires the specific criminalisation of trafficking in human beings. The Government are also currently negotiating an EU Framework Decision, which is a binding European Union instrument and requires the criminalisation of trafficking in human beings for the purposes of labour or sexual exploitation. Under its provisions, the United Kingdom will be required to have implemented the instrument within two years of its adoption.

Sexual Offences Review

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation based on the recommendations in the sexual offences review report, "Setting the Boundaries".

Keith Bradley: The Government are concerned that the law should provide clear and coherent sex offences which protect individuals, especially children and the more vulnerable, from abuse and exploitation.
	The recommendations of the sex offences review to Government on reforming the law on sex offences were published in "Setting the Boundaries" in July 2000. We are currently analysing more than 700 responses received during the consultation period, which closed on 1 March 2001, and are considering how to change existing sex offences, in the light of the recommendations and the responses to the consultation exercise. We will be bringing forward legislation when parliamentary time allows.

Rape

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rape (a) complaints, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there were (i) in total and (ii) in each county in England and Wales in (A) 2000 and (B) 2001.

Keith Bradley: The number of rape complaints is not collected centrally, but the available information relating to the number of recorded crimes of rape, together with the number of persons proceeded against and convicted of rape, by police force area for 2000 are shown in the table.
	All the figures in the table relate to the rape of males and females. The two sets of figures shown in the table are not directly comparable as recorded crime is offence based and court proceedings are person based.
	Statistics for 2001 are not yet available.
	
		Rape—number of recorded offences and persons proceeded against and convicted by police force area in 2000
		
			  Police force area Recorded offences Persons proceeded against(4) Persons convicted(4) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 175 59 13 
			 Bedfordshire 87 31 5 
			 Cambridgeshire 104 27 4 
			 Cheshire 83 33 13 
			 Cleveland 45 18 8 
			 Cumbria 27 7 3 
			 Derbyshire 116 37 11 
			 Devon and Cornwall 178 29 15 
			 Dorset 84 21 14 
			 Durham 60 40 3 
			 Essex 170 38 6 
			 Gloucestershire 90 20 8 
			 Greater Manchester 555 121 44 
			 Hampshire 284 91 23 
			 Hertfordshire 73 28 6 
			 Humberside 152 26 6 
			 Kent 178 50 20 
			 Lancashire 172 73 15 
			 Leicestershire 140 37 8 
			 Lincolnshire 68 28 11 
			 London, City of — 1 2 
			 Merseyside 212 68 9 
			 Metropolitan police 2,217 340 110 
			 Norfolk 106 14 5 
			 Northampstonshire 49 4 6 
			 Northumbria 239 94 19 
			 North Yorkshire 54 15 7 
			 Nottinghamshire 255 59 19 
			 South Yorkshire 127 47 7 
			 Staffordshire(5) 195 — 15 
			 Suffolk 94 14 5 
			 Surrey 119 19 4 
			 Sussex 257 47 9 
			 Thames Valley 273 45 15 
			 Warwickshire 25 6 2 
			 West Mercia 114 20 5 
			 West Midlands 546 156 37 
			 West Yorkshire 405 135 41 
			 Wiltshire 73 9 4 
			 
			 Dyfed Powys 47 25 5 
			 Gwent 106 25 10 
			 North Wales 101 24 4 
			 South Wales 125 65 22 
			  
			 England and Wales 8,580 2,046 598 
		
	
	(4) Data are given on a principal offence basis. Persons shown as convicted may have been proceeded against in earlier years.
	(5) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.
	Source:
	Home office Crime and Criminal Justice Unit.

Downview Prison

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons received prisoners from Downview between 17 July and 1 September.

Beverley Hughes: The main destinations for prisoners from Downview were:
	Coldingley, a nearby category C training prison;
	Ford, for those prisoners who were recategorised to D;
	Elmley, a local prison in Kent;
	Wormwood Scrubs, where former Downview prisoners were accommodated in a separate wing.

Visas

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time taken to renew a one year student visa was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: Information about average waiting times for student applications is not held centrally and could be obtained only by scrutinising individual case files, at disproportionate cost. We aim to decide 70 per cent. of new general and settlement applications within three weeks but at present it is taking up to eight weeks on average to consider new straightforward applications. The reasons for this are (i) the exceptionally high number of new applications received this year, especially in recent months; and (ii) process changes that are being introduced. We are working to reduce this to three weeks or less as soon as possible.

Visas

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to enable individuals to retain their passports while their visa renewal applications are being processed.

Angela Eagle: There are no plans to change the existing procedures requiring overseas nationals to provide their passports when applying for extensions of stay in the United Kingdom. But everything possible will be done to reduce the time scales for dealing with such applications and to improve the arrangements for handling applicants' passports while their applications are pending.

Prisoners

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were released from prison without accommodation to go to in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the accommodation of prisoners after release is not available centrally for all prisoners. However a prisoner resettlement survey is currently being carried out for the Prison Service. This involves interviews with a representative sample of about 2,000 prisoners shortly before discharge. It will provide information about the proportion reporting that they have no accommodation to go to on release. Results will be available in spring 2002.

Prisoners

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of women were refused bail by the courts in each of the last five years on the grounds that (a) they would fail to surrender to custody, (b) they would commit an offence while on bail, (c) they would interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice, (d) they should be kept in custody for their own protection or welfare and (e) the case was adjourned for inquiries or a report.

Keith Bradley: The information held centrally does not give a breakdown of the reasons why people are refused bail by the courts.

Migrant Workers

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to sign and ratify the 1990 UN convention on the protection of rights of all migrant workers and their families.

Angela Eagle: We have no plans at present to sign and ratify the convention. The Government consider they have already struck the right balance between the need for immigration control and the protection of the interests and rights of migrant workers and their families in the United Kingdom. The rights of migrant workers and their families are protected in United Kingdom legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998, and the United Kingdom's existing commitments under international law.

Court Cases

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court cases have collapsed during the last five years because of technical law procedures.

Keith Bradley: The number of court cases which collapsed because of technical law procedures cannot be identified by the Home Office from other early terminations or acquittals in the statistics collected centrally by the Department.

Driving Offences (Mobile Phones)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for (a) dangerous driving, (b) failing to have proper control of the vehicle and (c) careless and inconsiderate driving have been brought because of the use of mobile phones in each year since 1995.

Keith Bradley: There is no separate offence of driving a vehicle while using a mobile telephone and the circumstances of offences are not collected. In the main, prosecutions involving the use of mobile phones are likely to be for driving without due care and attention under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The number of prosecutions for this offence within England and Wales since 1995 is given in the table.
	
		Proceedings at magistrates courts for offences of driving without due care and attention(6), England and Wales, 1995–2000
		
			 Year Number of offences prosecuted 
		
		
			 1995 73,015 
			 1996 66,858 
			 1997 64,819 
			 1998 60,505 
			 1999 54,789 
			 2000 49,971 
		
	
	(6) Offences under section 3 Road Traffic Act 1988
	It is also possible for such drivers to be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty for not being in proper control of a vehicle (Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986), but such cases cannot be separately identified in the statistics collected centrally.

Driver Improvement Scheme

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the driver improvement scheme in reducing road traffic accidents; if he plans to assist those on low incomes with the fees and with loss of earnings while attending; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	National Driver Improvement Schemes are currently offered as an alternative to prosecution by the police. Research so far conducted shows improvement in driver attitudes and self-reported behaviour in the three months following attendance at courses. Further research is being undertaken to try to assess re-offending rates.
	The matter of fees is for the police and for the course providers.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Forestry

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review the options for further decentralising handling of forestry policy and management.

Elliot Morley: When I announced the completion of the first stage of the review of the Forest Enterprise executive agency on 10 May 2001, Official Report, column 301W, I said that we intended to review the options for further decentralisation of forestry policy and management. The Scottish and Welsh Forestry Ministers and I have decided that the review will start shortly and report to us in the spring. It will consider the current administrative arrangements for delivering sustainable forestry policies in England, Scotland and Wales and the UK's international forestry commitments, including options for further devolution of these arrangements. The review will be undertaken by officials from the Forestry Commission, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury. The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will also be involved in the review. Views will be sought from interested parties during the course of the review.

Timber Procurement

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent measures she has taken to ensure that the Government procure only sustainable and legally felled timber.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 December 2001
	My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced to Parliament on 28 July 2000, Official Report, columns 947–48W, that central Government Departments and their agencies were committed to actively seeking to buy timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources. In January 2001 the Office of Government Commerce wrote to departmental Heads of Procurement to confirm this policy. Departments have been asked to report annually on their timber purchases and the recent Greening Government report for the financial year 2000–01 includes a summary of the responses received. My Department, on behalf of an interdepartmental working group on timber procurement, has commissioned a study on the scale of central Government's timber requirements and the options available for developing the most effective implementation of this policy. An interim report is due to be published at the end of February 2002 with a final report due at the end of May 2002. My Department has consulted the Timber Trade Federation and environmental NGOs in pursuit of the Government's timber procurement policy and has been raising awareness among Departments and the wider public sector. In May 2001 a timber procurement workshop was held at the Greening Public Procurement conference organised by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and attended by a cross-section of the public sector. In October 2001 my Department gave a presentation at the local government's Central Buying Consortium conference and took that opportunity to promote the purchase of sustainable and legally harvested timber. Recently my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment has met the Timber Trade Federation to discuss implementation of the Government's timber procurement policy and he addressed a wide cross section of stakeholders and answered questions at the WWF 95+ Group 10th anniversary celebration event. My Department has arranged to meet the Department for Transport, Local Government and Rural Affairs to discuss how local authorities may be encouraged to purchase timber from sustainable and legal sources where they are not doing so already. My Department is working closely with the Department for International Development and other Departments to develop bilateral agreements with producing countries that will help to halt the export of timber that has been felled illegally.

Timber Procurement

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is taking to promote the viability of (a) the hardwood and (b) the softwood timber growing industries; what recent discussions she has had with the Timber Growers Association; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Government's Forestry Strategy for England sets out our priorities and programmes for sustainable forestry in England. These priorities include supporting the strategic development of woodland resources. Specific actions include support for regional and local marketing initiatives, and ensuring the supply of timber from our woodland resource is available at levels indicated in long-term forecasts. In addition, through the Forestry Commission and in partnership with woodland owners and wood users we are supporting the Wood for Good campaign, the largest single timber promotion ever mounted in the UK. Other measures include purchasing research on timber use from the Building Research Establishment, the Timber Research and Development Association and other organisations. We are also working to ensure that small sized timber and woodland residues are recognised as a source of renewable energy. These measures will help to promote the viability of the hardwood and softwood industries.
	I meet regularly with representatives from the Timber Growers Association (now known as the Association of Timber Growers and Forestry Professionals, following a merger with the Association of Professional Foresters, effective from 1 January 2002). The association is represented on the England Forestry Forum and I attended a parliamentary lunch with the Timber Growers Association and the UK Forest Products Association on 5 November 2001.

LGC/Cellmark Diagnostics Ltd.

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the responsibility of LGC and Cellmark Diagnostics Ltd. was in relation to errors in tests of sheep and cow brains; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Cellmark Diagnostics has had no involvement with the Government in this context. LGC performed the cross-checking genetic test of the brains in the flawed Institute of Animal Health experiment about which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement to the House on 22 October last year. LGC has performed an internal audit of this work and is satisfied that the samples were correctly handled and that the results can be traced back to the correct samples.

Laboratories (Departmental Arrangements)

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to (a) review and (b) assess her Department's arrangements with (i) its own and (ii) other laboratories; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: As Executive Agencies of DEFRA the arrangement between the Department and its three science laboratories—Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and Central Science Laboratory (CSL)—are governed by their respective Framework Agreements. Executive agencies are subject to quinquennial reviews which evaluate their performance and organisational arrangements. All three agencies are due quinquennial reviews this year. In accordance with best practice active consideration is being given to a joint exercise to ensure realisation of the full potential of these reviews to help improve the way service and functions are delivered. I hope to be able to announce further details soon. In addition the three agencies are the subject of periodic science assessments carried out by teams of independent and respected experts in the relevant fields. A science assessment was conducted on CEFAS in 1999 and similar assessments are currently under way at VLA and CSL.
	DEFRA has concordats with the research councils, such as BBSRC, NERC and MRC, aimed at ensuring effective working arrangements. The research councils periodically assess their research institutes for scientific quality, strategic relevance of science and knowledge transfer; BBSRC are currently carrying out such an assessment. In addition to this Horticulture Research International, a DEFRA sponsored NDPB but included in the BBSRC assessment exercise, is to undergo a quinquennial review in 2002 which was announced in December 2001.

Livestock Compensation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury of 27 November 2001, Official Report, column 860W, on livestock compensation, for what reason the Government treats losses incurred on cattle which went beyond 30 months because they could not be moved during the foot and mouth crisis as an indirect loss.

Elliot Morley: As that answer explained, the Government pay compensation only on property, including animals, seized or destroyed to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. The Government do not compensate for other losses such as those resulting from inability to market agricultural products at an optimum time.

Hills Task Force

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to all aspects of the Hills Task Force report; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Hills Task Force produced many wide-ranging and thoughtful recommendations which are being considered in the review of the Hill Farm Allowance, in the review of agri-environment schemes and elsewhere. The recommendations on helping hill farms to recover from foot and mouth disease have already informed our recovery strategy. The report also provides a timely contribution for the consideration of the Policy Commission on Food and Farming announced on 9 August and which we understand is due to report shortly.

TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many TB breakdowns of cattle there were in the Gloucester Division in each year from 1990 to 2000; and what the projected figure is for (a) 2001 and (b) 2002.

Elliot Morley: The Gloucester Animal Health Division covers the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the part of North Somerset which was formerly in the County of Avon. The total of new herd TB incidents from 1990 to 2000 and the number of those confirmed to be M.bovis TB are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Year New herd incidents Of which confirmed 
		
		
			 1990 22 0 
			 1991 69 0 
			 1992 104 1 
			 1993 151 5 
			 1994 151 34 
			 1995 189 108 
			 1996 181 89 
			 1997 229 132 
			 1998 314 184 
			 1999 333 221 
			 2000 366 257 
		
	
	This information is taken from the IT system used by the State Veterinary Service in support of their TB control work and has not been checked against the quality criteria expected of 'national statistics'. Figures may therefore be unreliable (especially before 1996); they show trends rather than absolute numbers of new incidents.
	Precise forecasts of the number of future incidents are not possible because of unknown variables including, in particular, the effect of the suspension of TB testing during 2001 in order to limit the spread of foot and mouth disease. We expect the total of new herd incidents in 2001 to fall within the range 95 to 150 (final figures will not be available until April). In 2002, if the rising trend of the last four years continues in the Gloucester Division, a new herd incident figure of around 400 may be possible, although it is not yet clear how measures taken in respect of foot and mouth disease may affect the incidence of bovine TB.

TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when full TB testing of herds will resume; what the priority order is for testing cattle to monitor the spread of bovine TB; and what staffing implications there are in the resumption of full cattle TB testing.

Elliot Morley: It is not possible to predict when full TB testing of cattle will resume. This will depend on when veterinary resource can be released from FMD work.
	Prioritisation of testing will vary according to local circumstances but in general tests will be ranked using two major criteria: likelihood of TB infection in a herd; and likely transmission of TB out of a herd. Top priority will be given to tests on herds where raw milk or raw milk products are manufactured and sold for human consumption or direct to consumers. Next in priority will be overdue tests on herds which have some association with an incident of TB. Of these, herds with high levels of movements other than direct to slaughter will be given priority.
	The major part of routine TB testing is delivered for the Government by local veterinary practitioners who work for the State Veterinary Service (SVS) as local veterinary inspectors (LVIs). Non-routine TB testing is delivered by both SVS veterinary officers and (LVIs) depending on local circumstances. SVS administrative staff provide office support for the testing programme. The resumption of full TB testing and clearing the overdue test backlog will place significant demands on these resources for quite some time to come.

Flooding

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evaluation has been made of the ability of the Environment Agency to undertake its statutory duties relating to flooding; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency has permissive powers to undertake flood defence works on main rivers and against flooding from the sea. The agency also has a statutory duty to exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence.
	The agency is able to carry out these functions satisfactorily.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what in the allocation of revenue support grant for 2002–03 reflects the cost of the floods in autumn 2000 for (a) North Yorkshire county council, (b) Humbleton district council, (c) Harrogate borough council, (d) Ryedale borough council and (e) City of York council.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 137W.

Hunting

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether departmental staff processing permits from hunts on Saturday 15 December usually work at weekends.

Alun Michael: Most of the sections processing hunt permit applications do not work at weekends.

Hunting

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many (a) fox and (b) hare hunts have applied for a temporary permit for hunting with dogs; and how many of these have been (i) accepted and (ii) rejected;
	(2)  if she will list the Forestry Commission land holdings where hunting permits have been issued under the temporary permits scheme;
	(3)  how many applications for temporary permits to hold hare coursing events have been received; and how many have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected.

Alun Michael: The current system is demand-led and temporary. DEFRA's animal health divisional offices will produce monthly statistics. A full copy of the statistics will be placed in the Library of the House when available.

Hunting

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what special conditions have been attached to licences giving permission to hunt to the (a) Worcestershire Hunt, (b) Croome and West Warwickshire Foxhounds and (c) North Cotswold Hunt; what the reason is for any such special conditions; and how long she expects such conditions will endure.

Alun Michael: Hunting with hounds is not governed by a licensing system. At present a temporary system sets out the requirements against which hunting can be allowed to take place within the requirements of disease control measures. Hunting was one of the activities that was banned in order to stop the spread of foot and mouth disease and assist its eradication. The Government's priority has been to eradicate FMD and then to enable the countryside to return to normal as quickly as it is safe to do so. For each of the activities that were banned or limited the decision on resumption and on any residual limitations on the relevant activity has been based on a Veterinary Risk Assessment. For low risk activities like walking, implementation of such decisions have been relatively straightforward. The same was found to be the case in respect of grouse shooting and falconry. In the case of hunting with hounds, the Veterinary Risk Assessment reflected a much more complex set of circumstances in which different forms of hunting, different conditions in different parts of the country and concentrations of FMD susceptible species such as deer and the presence of Form A and Form D farms all posed different risks and are factors that have to be taken into account.
	On 15 November 2001 I published proposals for the way in which hunting might be allowed to resume, along with the Veterinary Risk Assessment on which the proposals were based. Essentially it was proposed that any hunt which wished to resume activity would have to show how they would observe the limitations which would be necessary to minimise the risk of starting another outbreak of FMD. Decisions were delegated to Divisional Veterinary Managers who would be familiar with local circumstances and would need to be satisfied that the hunt could meet the requirements of animal health controls. Hunts which met these requirements can be permitted to hunt within the defined limits.
	On 13 December 2001 I published details of the permit arrangements which included practical amendments responding to representations by both hunting and non- hunting groups. Since then our Divisional Veterinary Managers have sought to apply local knowledge and common sense to approaches from hunts. They have been widely praised for the way they have undertaken this additional task and I would like to place on the record my thanks to the DEFRA staff involved.
	It is against this background that the circumstances of the Worcestershire Hunt, the Croome and West Warwickshire Foxhounds and the North Cotswold Hunt have to be understood.
	All these hunts have applied for and given a permit to hunt. Limitations on hunting will continue as long as care is needed to achieve the eradication of FMD and the general requirements—which require hunts not to meet or hunt within 8 km of a Form A or a Form D premise—will be reviewed as and when there is any change in the Veterinary Risk Assessment. As indicated earlier, the disease control requirements are being applied with common sense in the light of local circumstances. So in the case of the Worcestershire Hunt several exceptions have been granted to this criterion which is that it may hunt closer to a particular Form A premise as the M5 acts as a natural buffer between the Farm and five of the proposed meets. Two other proposed meets have also been permitted within an 8 km restriction due to the low risk of hunting near to the relevant Form A premise.
	Special conditions have also been applied to the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt forbidding it from hunting on the Ragley Hall Estate. This is in recognition of the estate having a large deer population.
	These conditions will continue to apply as long as the threat of FMD remains. The permit section at Worcester Animal Health Office is constantly reviewing the restrictions on individual Form A and Form D premises and as soon as any are lifted, the relevant Hunts are being informed. The temporary permit system for hunting will continue as long as restrictions are necessary to achieve eradication of FMD and will be removed when FMD has been officially eradicated from the whole of Great Britain.

Correspondence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the question, ref 22779, tabled on 10 December, for what reason replies to letters from the hon. Member for the Vale of York were not received by 19 December.

Elliot Morley: The hon. Member has been sent responses to all the letters detailed in her question, ref 22779, tabled on 10 December, except the letter dated 21 June on behalf of Mrs. P. Crosby of Thirsk about FMD, which will be sent out as soon as possible.

Organic Farming

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps the Government are taking to encourage the growth of organic farming.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 30 November, Official Report, column 1174W.

Animal Experiments

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which household chemicals have been permitted to be tested on animals in live experiments in the UK in the next two years.

Elliot Morley: EU legislation requires testing, including animal testing, of all industrial chemicals produced in high volume (greater than 1,000 tons per manufacturer per year) and below this level, the generation of data on new chemicals according to the amount produced. Other chemicals may be required to be tested if there are justifiable concerns. Chemicals used for particular purposes, for example pesticides and biocides (including garden pesticides and household disinfectants) and pharmaceuticals, are also required to be tested before they are put on the market. We have no information about which chemicals will be coming forward for testing in future years. Animal tests are regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which is a Home Office matter. The Government's policy is to reduce the number of animals used in tests and we are currently supporting changes to Pesticides Directive 91/44/EC to prevent the replication of testing on vertebrate animals.

Farm Assurance Schemes

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage (a) supermarkets and (b) consumers to buy produce from farm schemes which are (i) environmentally and (ii) animal welfare friendly; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The promotion of food produced in accordance with the standards laid down in farm assurance schemes is a matter for the individual scheme providers. The Department has, however, supported the development of farm assurance schemes and the inclusion within them of animal welfare and environmental standards. A significant proportion of farm produce in the UK is now produced in accordance with the standards laid down in such schemes. Much of this will be sold to consumers through supermarkets.

Ministerial Meeting

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) matters discussed and (b) points agreed and disagreed in her meeting on 17 December with her Norwegian counterpart.

Margaret Beckett: We had a useful and friendly discussion of issues of mutual interest, including climate change, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the North Sea Conference, which the Norwegians will chair in March. The Norwegian Minister raised the issue of technetium-99 discharges from Sellafield, but I was unable to comment for legal reasons in advance of the statutory decision which the Secretary of State for Health and I have to take on the Environment Agency's proposed decision.
	The meeting was held in order to exchange views rather than to seek agreement on any specific points.

Common Agricultural Policy

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's discussions with EU institutions in the last six months regarding the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Elliot Morley: We have had a number of discussions with Commission representatives about the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy Agenda 2000 decisions and the Secretary of State will be meeting Commissioner Fischler later this month. Our understanding is that the Commission are likely to report to the Agriculture Council on the review in the summer.

Skimmed Milk Powder

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the worldwide slump in skimmed milk powder consumption on the UK milk producing industry; and if she will make a statement on recent trends in milk prices.

Elliot Morley: The fall in world demand for skimmed milk powder has depressed prices. Low demand in the UK coupled with low prices could lead to an increase in public intervention. That is why the Government have supported moves by the Commission to stimulate markets both at home and abroad.
	The producer price for milk reflects the position in the market and, therefore, has recently shown a downward trend following a very sharp recovery compared to a year earlier. The action already taken may help arrest this trend but the price will ultimately be determined by supply and demand.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease samples were subjected to laboratory testing.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 19 December 2001
	Samples were taken for laboratory testing from 1,728 premises which are confirmed as infected premises.
	Source:
	DEFRA Disease Control System database as at 17:00 17 December 2001.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Entertainment Budgets

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the entertainment budget for each British embassy and consulate for financial year 2000–01.

Denis MacShane: Entertainment budgets are not held at embassy and post level. However, actual expenditure is recorded and the figures for 2000–01 are detailed in the table. A composite figure is shown where the FCO has more than one representation in a city.
	
		£ 
		
			 Post Total 
		
		
			 Paris 305,231 
			 Tokyo 302,731 
			 New York 267,024 
			 Washington 226,400 
			 Brussels 205,744 
			 Berlin 158,251 
			 Moscow 127,739 
			 Hong Kong 115,156 
			 Buenos Aires 105,381 
			 Seoul 105,117 
			 Geneva 91,927 
			 Peking 88,212 
			 Madrid 82,297 
			 Rome 78,985 
			 Vienna 75,033 
			 Ottawa 68,189 
			 Cairo 63,938 
			 Dublin 61,465 
			 Islamabad 61,232 
			 Atlanta 60,077 
			 Chicago 59,426 
			 Warsaw 59,009 
			 Santiago 57,590 
			 Riyadh 57,440 
			 Jakarta 56,706 
			 Mexico City 56,562 
			 New Delhi 56,153 
			 Singapore 55,951 
			 Tripoli 52,383 
			 Lagos 51,900 
			 Tel Aviv 51,551 
			 Athens 51,422 
			 Zagreb 49,771 
			 Nairobi 49,485 
			 Kuala Lumpur 48,446 
			 Hague, The 47,596 
			 Stockholm 47,149 
			 Prague 46,609 
			 Muscat 46,536 
			 Copenhagen 46,144 
			 Berne 45,323 
			 Canberra 44,720 
			 Houston 44,576 
			 Brasília 44,455 
			 Accra 44,397 
			 Caracas 44,116 
			 Sydney 43,684 
			 Manila 43,652 
			 Ankara 42,517 
			 Nicosia 41,841 
			 Los Angeles 41,287 
			 Ljubljana 39,812 
			 Budapest 39,658 
			 Sarajevo 39,347 
			 Helsinki 39,273 
			 Oslo 38,646 
			 Pretoria 38,596 
			 Bangkok 38,031 
			 Grand Turk 37,912 
			 Taipei 37,550 
			 Kuwait 36,862 
			 Shanghai 36,592 
			 Amman 35,951 
			 Hanoi 35,679 
			 Abuja 35,644 
			 Bridgetown 35,252 
			 Beirut 34,790 
			 Baku 34,423 
			 Lisbon 34,393 
			 Kingston 33,993 
			 Boston 33,752 
			 Abu Dhabi 33,174 
			 Dusseldorf 32,547 
			 Havana 32,128 
			 Doha 31,905 
			 Dhaka 31,679 
			 Bahrain 30,235 
			 Plymouth 30,096 
			 Bandar Seri Begawan 29,826 
			 Osaka 29,780 
			 Bogotá 29,540 
			 Belgrade 28,790 
			 Khartoum 28,704 
			 Sanaa 28,697 
			 Sa~o Paulo 28,638 
			 Damascus 27,804 
			 Gibraltar 27,107 
			 Bucharest 26,918 
			 Hamburg 26,726 
			 Nassau 26,480 
			 Luanda 26,390 
			 St. Petersburg 26,284 
			 Riga 25,764 
			 Harare 25,720 
			 Strasbourg 25,235 
			 Lima 24,963 
			 Freetown 24,591 
			 Vancouver 24,423 
			 Vilnius 24,357 
			 Ho Chi Minh City 24,328 
			 Bombay 23,855 
			 Milan 23,489 
			 Valletta 23,369 
			 Abidjan 23,358 
			 Brisbane 23,289 
			 Dubai 22,941 
			 Dakar 22,904 
			 San Francisco 22,543 
			 Colombo 22,536 
			 Wellington 22,412 
			 Lusaka 22,387 
			 Tehran 22,057 
			 Jerusalem 21,713 
			 Kampala 21,461 
			 Kinshasa 21,012 
			 Yaounde 20,853 
			 Maputo 20,701 
			 Addis Ababa 20,365 
			 Minsk 20,023 
			 St. Helena 19,821 
			 Sofia 19,772 
			 Istanbul 19,680 
			 Stanley 19,576 
			 Port of Spain 19,574 
			 Panama City 19,402 
			 Tallinn 19,384 
			 Montreal 19,365 
			 Santo Domingo 19,090 
			 Tunis 18,790 
			 Cape Town 18,544 
			 Toronto 18,501 
			 Tortola 18,485 
			 Reykjavik 18,339 
			 Marseilles 18,242 
			 Rabat 17,722 
			 Kiev 17,647 
			 Jedda 17,475 
			 Almaty 17,096 
			 Gaborone 17,072 
			 Dar es Salaam 16,999 
			 Madras 16,885 
			 Ekaterinburg 16,740 
			 Quito 16,709 
			 Tirana 16,468 
			 Karachi 16,254 
			 Munich 16,189 
			 Belmopan 16,164 
			 Anguilla 16,158 
			 Asuncion 15,920 
			 Port Louis 15,537 
			 Luxembourg 15,490 
			 Melbourne 15,383 
			 Johannesburg 15,216 
			 Lyon 14,844 
			 La Paz 14,760 
			 Montevideo 14,601 
			 Pristina 14,274 
			 Perth 14,099 
			 Barcelona 14,080 
			 Kigali 13,871 
			 Vila 13,854 
			 Port Moresby 13,823 
			 Frankfurt 13,676 
			 Lilongwe 13,473 
			 Tegucigalpa 13,318 
			 Ashgabat 13,049 
			 San Salvador 12,816 
			 Rio de Janeiro 12,760 
			 Phnom Penh 12,607 
			 Georgetown 12,529 
			 Bratislava 12,465 
			 Victoria 11,853 
			 Kathmandu 11,786 
			 Skopje 11,460 
			 Managua 11,247 
			 Suva 11,180 
			 Alexandria 11,043 
			 Tbilisi 11,030 
			 Naples 11,028 
			 Casablanca 10,889 
			 Ulaanbaatar 10,616 
			 San José 10,564 
			 Algiers 10,300 
			 Rangoon 10,246 
			 Guatemala City 10,021 
			 Bordeaux 10,001 
			 Auckland 9,928 
			 Yerevan 9,927 
			 Chongqing 9,843 
			 Seattle 9,777 
			 Lille 9,527 
			 Castries 9,333 
			 Nuku Alofa 8,814 
			 Dili 8,649 
			 Calcutta 8,565 
			 Banjul 8,454 
			 Mbabane 8,308 
			 Honiara 8,248 
			 Tashkent 8,149 
			 St. John's 7,809 
			 Holy See 7,758 
			 Windhoek 7,537 
			 Amsterdam 7,134 
			 Maseru 6,987 
			 Antananarivo 6,077 
			 Bilbao 6,052 
			 Palma 5,677 
			 Durban 5,419 
			 St. George's 4,249 
			 Kingstown 3,821 
			 Conakry 3,012 
			 Grand Cayman 1,340 
			 Guangzhou 621 
			 Pyongyang 335 
			  
			 Total 7,347,976

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many commercial aircraft have been diverted en route to Gibraltar due to (a) inclement weather and (b) restrictions by the Government of Spain on overflying Spanish airspace.

Peter Hain: In the period 1 January to 18 December 2001, 29 commercial aircraft en route to Gibraltar were diverted due to inclement weather. None were diverted due to restrictions on overflying Spanish airspace.

European Security and Defence Policy

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the ESDP's readiness to take on (a) a peacekeeping role, and (b) a humanitarian aid relief role.

Ben Bradshaw: At Laeken the EU assessed that it was now able to conduct some crisis-management operations. The EU will be in a position to take on more demanding operations as the assets an capabilities at its disposal continue to develop. Decisions to make use of this ability will be taken in the light of the circumstances of each particular situation, a determining factor being the military and civilian assets and capabilities at the disposal of the Union at the time.

European Security and Defence Policy

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the cost to the EU of EU structures that there have been created to support the ESDP in (a) the current financial year and (b) each of the next two years.

Ben Bradshaw: The budget of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union contains a provision of £10.7 million to meet expenses related to the European Union Military Staff and infrastructure and meeting costs in support of the European Security and Defence Policy during the current EU financial year. There are no estimates currently available for these costs in future financial years.
	The current year is the first in which the budget of the General Secretariat has included disaggregated figures for the costs of the European Security and Defence Policy. In the figure stated it has therefore been possible to include not only the costs of the infrastructure supporting ESDP, as estimated in the answer to the hon. Member's question of 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 360W, but also the costs of meetings and of the European Union Military Staff, which will near full staffing this year.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he expects to be made before the expiry of the MINURSO mandate by the UN on a referendum on the future of the Western Sahara.

Ben Bradshaw: We supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 1359 that extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 28 February 2002.
	Resolution 1359 reiterated full support for the on-going efforts of MINURSO to implement the Settlement Plan and the agreements of the parties to hold a free, fair and impartial referendum for the self determination of the people of the Western Sahara. The resolution expressed the UN's commitment to assist the parties in achieving a just and lasting solution to the question of the Western Sahara.
	We continue to support the efforts of James Baker, the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General, who is currently engaged in an attempt to resolve the dispute. We look forward to the interim reports on the situation from the Secretary General, in January and again in February.

Ukraine

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Britain's relationship with Ukraine with reference to the enlargement of the EU.

Peter Hain: The Government support a closer relationship between the EU and Ukraine and welcome recent progress including Ukraine's attendance at the enlarged European conference meeting in October and the agreement of an EU-Ukraine Action Plan on Justice and Home Affairs. The Government recognise the potential impact on Ukraine of the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union and support the European Commission's efforts to ensure that this is taken into account, eg by supporting joint programmes with EU candidates aimed at improving border management.
	The Government consider that EU enlargement presents opportunities for Ukraine, particularly in the fields of trade and investment. The UK has urged Ukraine to continue with its political and economic reforms, so it is able to exploit these opportunities fully.
	Accession to the World Trade Organisation—an area where the UK is giving bilateral technical assistance—will be a vital step in this direction.

Sudan

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria will be used in determining the date for resuming the EU-Sudan dialogue; if he will outline the criteria by which future progress will be measured; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: At the end of 2001 the EU and the Sudanese Government agreed to continue and intensify the EU-Sudan dialogue, chaired by our ambassador during the latter half of the year, for a further 12 months. The dialogue is therefore on-going. The continued dialogue will allow for regular joint assessments of concrete and verifiable progress achieved with respect to democracy and human rights and in the peace process. For its part, the EU agreed to achieve the launch of the Humanitarian Plus programme.
	We are pleased with the progress achieved during the course of the dialogue last year. There was some progress on human rights and democratisation. The Council of Ministers is somewhat more broadly based. The Umma Party is back and operating as a political party within Sudan. New newspapers are permitting a freer expression of political debate. There is some moderation of police and security activity, though abuses undoubtedly occur. Work continues to confront the problem of abductions. But in all these areas there is much more to do and we shall continue to address these issues during the course of this year.

Telephone Bugging

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether hon. Members and peers have their office and home telephone conversations (a) recorded and (b) listened to on the instruction of the Foreign Office.

Jack Straw: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 366W.
	The Secretary of State alone can sign an interception of communications warrant; the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 lists the authorities that may apply for such a warrant.

Macedonia

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation on the borders of Macedonia and the progress of British forces there.

Denis MacShane: We strongly support Macedonia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. British forces in Kosovo as part of KFOR have contributed significantly to successful operations on the Macedonia/Kosovo border in which over 5,000 weapons and 224,000 rounds of ammunition have been seized and over 1,200 people detained while illegally crossing the border.

Fiji

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to readmit Fiji to the Councils of the Commonwealth and on the implications for UK policy on Fiji.

Denis MacShane: The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group discussed developments in Fiji at its meeting in London on 20 December. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State represented the United Kingdom. The Group welcomed the holding of broadly free and fair elections in Fiji in August and September 2001. In recognition of this and the fact that the Fiji Government were now addressing the current uncertainty over their own constitutionality in a responsible manner, the Group decided that the conditions were now right to readmit Fiji to the Councils of the Commonwealth. However, in view of the remaining uncertainty over the Government's constitutionality the Group also decided that Fiji should remain on its agenda and that the Secretary General's Special Envoy, Justice Pius Langa of South Africa should remain engaged.
	In view of this we decided on 20 December to lift the targeted package of measures that the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) announced on 21 July 2000. We will once again consider applications for funding for small projects from the Fiji Government in the areas of good governance, human rights, conflict prevention and the environment. We have also ended our blanket ban on joint military exercises and visits to Fiji by Royal Navy ships—possible co-operation in this area will be considered on a case-by-case basis. And in keeping with national and EU criteria, we will continue not to issue export licences for military or security equipment where there is a clear risk that it will be used for internal repression. We will not hesitate to re-impose these measures, and even consider extending their scope, in the event that the Government of Fiji fail to meet their constitutional obligations to all of Fiji's citizens.

Zimbabwe

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts his Department has had with UK nationals in Zimbabwe concerning their safety during the present unrest.

Ben Bradshaw: Our high commission is in regular contact with UK nationals in Zimbabwe through its network of 92 volunteer consular wardens.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning the arrest of Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai; and what action his Department is taking to investigate this matter.

Ben Bradshaw: Mr. Tsvangirai was temporarily arrested for allegedly possessing unlicensed radio equipment. We understand that he is challenging the validity of these charges.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account he is taking of the Democracy and Economic Recovery Act 2001 in his policy towards Zimbabwe.

Ben Bradshaw: The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act asks the President of the United States to begin immediate consultations with other Governments on possible measures against the Government of Zimbabwe. We look forward to further discussions with the US authorities, when/if the Administration sign the Act into law.

Israel

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have received from coalition partners concerning the decision by the Israeli Government to end diplomatic contact with Chairman Arafat.

Ben Bradshaw: The Israeli Security Cabinet declared President Arafat to be "irrelevant" on 13 December. We and our EU partners have repeatedly made it clear, as stated at the Laeken European Council on 16 December, that
	"Israel needs the Palestinian Authority and its elected President, Yasser Arafat, as a partner". It remains our view that President Arafat is the only figure with whom Israel can negotiate peace.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has received concerning the development of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq since 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Since the withdrawal of United Nations weapons inspectors in December 1998 there have been no independent inspections of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes. While we cannot therefore make any categorical assessment of current Iraqi capabilities, we judge that since 1999 Iraq has pressed ahead with its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programmes.
	We continue to urge Iraq to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq to disarm and monitor its ballistic missile and other weapons of mass destruction programmes as required under UN Security Council resolution 1284.

Drug Trafficking

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures he is proposing to combat international drug trafficking.

Ben Bradshaw: We will continue to work closely with Governments and law enforcement agencies in key counties on the main trafficking routes for illegal drugs to the UK.
	The installation of the Interim Authority in Afghanistan on 22 December 2001 provides a fresh opportunity to eliminate opium poppy cultivation from Afghanistan, recently the world's major producer of opium. We will work to develop and sustain the Interim Authority's co-operation with the international community in the fight against terrorism, drugs and organised crime.

EU Accession

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on British (a) business and (b) jobs of the next wave of EU enlargement.

Peter Hain: The Government consider that the next wave of EU enlargement will have significant benefits for UK business and jobs. As a result of enlargement, UK business will have access to a single market comprising up to 450 million consumers—bigger than the US and Japan combined. This huge single market should boost trade, jobs and prosperity in all EU member states. Independent research estimates that enlargement will add around £1.75 billion to UK GDP and 1.5 per cent. to the GDP of each candidate country. It is also estimated by the European Round Table of Industrialists that enlargement will create over 300,000 extra jobs across the EU and two million new jobs in the candidate countries.

EU Accession

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Britain is playing in helping to prepare countries applying for accession to the EU.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Luke) on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 576W.

Kosovo

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent elections in Kosovo.

Denis MacShane: Assembly elections were held on 17 November 2001. For the first time all the people of Kosovo were able freely to elect a representative Assembly, which met for the first time on 10 December.
	Kosovo's elected politicians can now develop the new institutions of self-government in Kosovo, in partnership with the international community.

Middle East

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what impact the recent conflict in the occupied territories has had on (a) the Lebanon, (b) Syria, (c) Jordan and (d) Egypt; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The violence in Israel and the occupied territories continues to have a destabilising effect on the middle east, and remains a source of tension around the region. It is important that the countries of the region play a constructive role in efforts to bring the parties back to the negotiating table. We will continue to play a full part in these efforts.

Middle East

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with President Bush's Administration about their present and future role in securing peace in the middle east.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary speaks to Secretary of State Colin Powell regularly on this issue, most recently on 3 January. US engagement remains central to efforts to secure a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. We support the work of US envoy General Zinni to bring the parties back to negotiations, and will continue to work with the US and our EU partners to this end.

Middle East

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made towards the Israeli Government regarding the peace process in the middle east.

Ben Bradshaw: On 19 December the Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Sharon. Lord Levy met Prime Minister Sharon in Israel on the same day. We have made clear to the Israeli Government that they should support the Palestinian Authority's efforts to enforce a ceasefire. Israel should also withdraw its military forces and stop extrajudicial killings, lift closures and restrictions, freeze settlement activity and end operations directed against the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority.

Middle East

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the recent meetings in the last 12 months that have taken place between British Government Ministers and the French ambassador to the United Kingdom at which the middle east was discussed.

Peter Hain: The French ambassador has frequent contact with Ministers and a variety of issues are discussed on an on-going basis.

Middle East

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the individual terrorist organisations which operate within (a) Syria and (b) Iran.

Ben Bradshaw: Syria allows a number of terrorist organisations to operate from within its borders. These organisations include the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Front for the Liberation—General Command. Hizballah also operates from within Syria. The UK has proscribed an element of Hizballah, its External Security Organisation, as terrorist. Syria is however co-operating with the international fight against terrorism and has taken some steps to rein in these organisations. Iran does not host terrorist organisations in the same way. However we have long-standing concerns about Iran's record of support for groups which use violent methods to oppose the Middle East Peace Process, including Hizballah.

Middle East

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of which organisations were responsible for the terrorist attack on a bus in the West Bank on Wednesday 12 December 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack on the bus in the West Bank on 12 December.

Middle East

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of which organisations were responsible for the terrorist attack in the Israeli town of Afula on Tuesday 27 November.

Ben Bradshaw: Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the shooting in Afula on 27 November.

Ivory Coast

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of the Ivory Coast to implement the recommendation of the Reconciliation Forum, to allow Alassane Ouattara to contest future elections by granting him a certificate of nationality; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have followed the progress of the National Reconciliation Forum (NRF) closely. We noted with satisfaction that the main political figures attended the Forum and that several recommendations have been made to the Government of Cote d'Ivoire. We consider that the Forum has achieved positive results and that it paves the way for further progress towards reconciliation and political stability in Cote d'Ivoire.
	Nationality is a matter for each State to determine We note that the question of Mr. Ouattara's nationality has been referred to the Ivorian courts. Whatever their ruling, we consider it is important for democracy and stability in Cote d'Ivoire that Mr. Ouattara and the Rassemblement des Republicains should be able to play an active role in Ivorian politics.

Romania

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Romanian Government regarding their embargo on inter-country adoption which prohibits United Kingdom citizens from adopting Romanian children.

Peter Hain: We have expressed our support for the one-year moratorium on international adoptions from Romania announced on 13 July following a recommendation from the European Parliament. There were allegations that the existing adoption system had become very corrupt, and the Romanians needed time to rewrite the law on adoption and get the necessary framework in place to support it. They are being helped in this by the UK Department for International Development, as well as UNICEF, the EU and USAID.

Liberia

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of likely political developments in Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In recent weeks the security situation within Liberia has deteriorated. In north-western Liberia fighting has escalated between Guinean backed dissident groups and Liberian forces loyal to President Taylor. There is a risk that this increased instability could destabilise the sub-region, including neighbouring Sierra Leone, and have serious humanitarian consequences. Regional peace is dependent on the restoration of stability in Liberia, and we will continue working towards that goal.
	In March 2001 we co-sponsored United Nations Security Council Resolution 1343 imposing sanctions on Liberia. We are encouraged that Liberia has taken some positive steps, including rescinding the expulsion of the Sierra Leonean and Guinean ambassadors, and granting an amnesty to political opponents accused of treason. But as the UN Expert Panel Report on sanction made clear in October 2001, President Taylor has not fundamentally changed his behaviour. In response to this report, the UK is actively pursuing further actions in the Security Council. The EU recently held talks with Liberia to further increase pressure on President Taylor to stop backing rebel groups and start implementing democratic principles, good governance and respect for human rights. Through various diplomatic channels, including the EU presidency representative to the Mano River Union (MRU: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone), the UN and ECOWAS, we are encouraging the leaders of the MRU countries to establish a meaningful dialogue.

Sierra Leone

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is towards Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Baillieston (Mr. Wray) on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 582W.

Colombia

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Colombian Government about the situation in Barrancabermeja and Magdalene Medio.

Denis MacShane: I had comprehensive discussion about the situation in Barrancabermeja and Magdalene Medio with the Colombian Government during my visit to Colombia, which included Barrancabermeja, in October 2001. I specifically discussed the security situation in the town and its surrounds with the Chief of Police in Barrancabermeja, as well as with the church, NGOs and human rights groups. Staff from the British Embassy in Bogota visited Barrancabermeja on a number of occasions last year.

Angola

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support national reconciliation in Angola; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We continue to urge all parties to the conflict to engage in dialogue, as an essential first step towards addressing the problems in Angola. We welcome the growing contribution of the Churches and Civil Society to efforts towards national reconciliation.

Entry Clearance

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to commission a formal study of the pre-sift system at overseas posts.

Ben Bradshaw: I have instructed the Joint Entry Clearance Unit to arrange a review of the pre-sift process, as recommended by the Independent Monitor for entry clearance in his recent report.

Entry Clearance

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if guidance has been sent to overseas posts about the authenticity of documents with (a) spelling and (b) grammatical errors as a result of the report of the Independent Monitor.

Ben Bradshaw: Entry Clearance Officers are trained to assess the authenticity of documents, including whether the standard of the English used in them is consistent with that which could reasonably be expected of the originator. In addition, further guidance on this matter is currently under consideration.

Entry Clearance

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken in response to the proposal by the independent monitor that future statistics on entry clearance applications should allow refusal rates to be ascertained by reference to (a) gender and (b) age group.

Ben Bradshaw: The entry clearance software at overseas posts cannot produce statistics by reference to gender and age group. We are considering whether a revised version of the software, capable of doing so, can be developed and provided to posts this year.

Palestinian Authority

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Chairman Arafat regarding terrorism emanating from within the Palestinian Authority.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have repeatedly condemned terrorism, wherever it originates. We have made clear to President Arafat that the Palestinian Authority must dismantle terrorist networks, and arrest and prosecute all suspects. Lord Levy met the Palestinian Authority leadership, including President Arafat, on 18 and 19 December, and reinforced these messages.

Palestinian Authority

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the number of terrorist attacks carried out by members of the Fatah from within the Palestinian Authority since October 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not always possible to determine, with certainty, the responsibility for terrorist attacks. Many attacks are unclaimed, and some claims of responsibility are unreliable. What is important is that President Arafat has committed the Palestinian Authority to an effort to prevent violence by all Palestinian groups operating from the occupied territories. We urge the Palestinian Authority to fulfil this commitment, and Israel to help create the conditions for a return to negotiations. Only a just and lasting peace can assure security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Great War Battlefields

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Belgian counterpart concerning the preservation for posterity of landscape features associated with battlefields of the Great War.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with his Belgian counterpart at EU meetings and on other occasions. The Government and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintain a regular dialogue with the Belgian authorities on developments affecting war graves in Belgium.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure that prisoners taken during the fighting in Afghanistan are protected from torture or death once they have surrendered.

Ben Bradshaw: We have urged the new Afghan Interim Authority to treat humanely all those who are prisoners in their custody and to respect the principles of the Geneva Conventions.
	The UN also appealed to the Afghan forces to treat surrendering forces in accordance with international humanitarian law. Security Council resolution 1378 (2001) calls on all Afghan forces to adhere strictly to their obligations under human rights and international humanitarian law. International Committee of the Red Cross staff returned to Afghanistan in mid-November, and have been allowed access to prisoners held by the Northern Alliance.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform the workings of the Child Support Agency.

Malcolm Wicks: From April 2002 we will introduce a number of changes to the child support system. The changes are designed to provide a simple, clear and responsive service which will be easy to operate and easy to understand.
	The new arrangements will be introduced for new clients from April 2002. Current clients will transfer to the new scheme, from a later date, when we are sure that the new arrangements are working well.

Benefit Fraud

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many prosecutions for social security fraud there were in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000;
	(2)  how many claimants were found to be illegally claiming social security benefit for a year or more in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the duration of fraudulent claims is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In order to prepare for the implementation of the "two strike" provisions in the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 we are currently improving the data sources used to compile information on prosecutions, cautions and penalties. The latest provisional information is in the table.
	
		
			 Investigations Prosecutions Cautions and penalties as an alternative to prosecution Total 
		
		
			 Benefits Agency
			 1997–98 11,700 — 11,700 
			 1998–99 10,238 2,835 13,073 
			 1999–2000 9,124 11,029 20,153 
			 2000–01 11,403 15,555 26,958 
			 
			 Local authority
			 1997–98 700 — 700 
			 1998–99 800 — 800 
			 1999–2000 860 390 1,250 
			 2000–01 1,100 550 1,650 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Benefits Agency investigations data are now compiled from a new data source. The figures above are provisional and may differ from those previously published.
	2. The data on cautions and penalties for 1998–99 is derived from the database proceeding the current database and there maybe some overlap with 1999–2000.
	3. Administrative Penalties, as an alternative to prosecution, were introduced by the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act (1997) with effect from December 1998.
	4. Figures are taken from local authority management information returns. It is possible that there could be some double counting with Benefits Agency data if there were cases which involved a joint prosecution.
	5. Data are not available for all 409 local authorities. The total for Great Britain includes estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents. The figures have been rounded to two significant figures.

Benefits

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures social security offices use to ensure claimants of means-tested benefits do not have capital at levels which would render them ineligible for benefits.

Malcolm Wicks: When income-related benefits are first claimed, officials can require claimants to provide evidence of capital. Periodic checks are made to ensure that entitlement remains correct, by a variety of means including home visit, office interview, post or telephone.
	The information gathering powers contained in the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 will allow authorised officers in the Department and in local authorities, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect fraud, to require financial institutions to provide information about their customers, including savings and assets. These powers will commence in the first quarter of 2002.

Allowances

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what were the average processing times for claims to (a) disability living allowance, and (b) attendance allowance, in each month since January; and what were the average processing times for these benefits in each full year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the tables.
	
		Days 
		
			  DLA actual average clearance times AA actual average clearance times 
		
		
			 2001   
			 January 45.5 28.7 
			 February 44.4 26.9 
			 March 41.7 24.9 
			 April 41.4 25.3 
			 May 41.5 25.9 
			 June 43.5 26.8 
			 July 45.7 27.1 
			 August 44.6 28.3 
			 September 44.4 28.4 
			 October 46.3 30.9 
			 November 44.6 28.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Actual average clearance time year to date for DLA(7) Actual average clearance time year to date for AA(7) 
		
		
			 1997–98 37.2 25.2 
			 1998–99 35.0 25.1 
			 1999–2000 42.6 32.1 
			 2000–01 46.8 30.5 
			 2001–02(8) 44.0 27.6 
		
	
	(7) Figures as at each year end (31 March)
	(8) Figures to end of November 2001

Child Poverty

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in poverty in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Child poverty and social exclusion are complex multi-dimensional concepts, affecting many aspects of children's lives—including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of the environment and opportunities to learn. The third "Opportunity for all" report (Cm 5260) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling child poverty and social exclusion and presents the latest information on the indicators used to monitor progress against this strategy.

Sarccidosis

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the number of sarccidosis sufferers in receipt of disability living allowance.

Maria Eagle: Information is not available in the form requested.

Departmental Projects

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list (i) the start date, (ii) the planned completion date, (iii) the actual completion date, (iv) the planned cost and (v) the actual cost of (a) DSS year 2000 programme, (b) site backbone upgrade, (c) CSA operations re-organisation project, (d) decision making and appeals, (e) working families tax credit, (f) resource accounting and budgeting, (g) devolution (Scotland), (h) disability living allowance administrative reforms, (i) order book control service (OBCS)—national roll-out project, (j) bereavement benefits, (k) jobseeker's allowance—new deal for partners of the unemployed, (l) the strategic debt solution project, (m) the ACCORD IS/IT supply programme (office and networks) and (n) the ITSA strategic outsourcing project.

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer question 18002, on his Department's IT projects, tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 21 November 2001.

Ian McCartney: As explained in my answer on 13 July 2001, Official Report, columns 689–90W, the increase in resources provided in Spending Review 2000 allowed the Department to expand greatly the speed and scope of our modernisation programme. The headquarters of DWP were also re-organised to focus resources more on delivery. As a result the entire programme was replanned and organised on a different basis. In the course of this work a number of existing projects merged, restructured, superseded or concluded. As a consequence the information sought can be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

Benefits Take-up

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Daventry, (Mr. Boswell), of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 152W, how take-up of disability living allowance among eligible children is kept under review.

Ian McCartney: We undertake routine monitoring of statistical information which indicates that take-up of disability living allowance continues to increase.

Bereavement Allowance

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made on the financial impact of the introduction of the bereavement on allowance on women under 55 years of age who have been widowed since 9 April and are in receipt of incapacity benefit;
	(2)  what assessment he has made on the financial impact of the introduction of the bereavement allowance on women under 55 years of age who have been widowed since 9 April.

Malcolm Wicks: Our reforms to bereavement benefits introduced in April 2001 concentrate the help available where and when it is needed most—on immediate needs and on families with children. And for the first time these benefits are available equally to both men and women. Immediate help with costs arising on bereavement is provided by a lump sum bereavement payment of £2000—double the old widow's payment of £1000. There is a weekly benefit for widowed parents who satisfy the qualifying conditions. The bereavement allowance is also available for 12 months, to give widows and widowers aged 45 or over without dependants time to adjust to their new circumstances.
	Women under 55 years of age who have been widowed since 9 April 2001 can claim the new bereavement benefits in the same way as anybody else. Where they are already in receipt of incapacity benefit and claim either widowed parent's allowance or bereavement allowance they will receive the higher of the two benefits to which they are entitled.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers.

Malcolm Wicks: The procedures for making complaints under the civil service code are set in the Department's staff handbook. Civil servants are encouraged, in the first instance, to raise complaints made under paragraph 11 of the civil service code with their line manager. If for any reason this is not felt to be possible, perhaps because the line manager is part of the complaint, individuals may take their complaint to a nominated official (or officials). It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the number of complaints made under within this Department under paragraph 11 of the code as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre details of complaints made under the civil service code which are resolved within the management line.

HEALTH

Paediatric Pathologists

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric pathologists practise in England; and how many practised in 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Paediatric pathology is a sub-specialty of histopathology. Data are not collected for sub-specialties and the information requested is not available.
	Data for histopathology are shown in the table.
	
		Hospital medical staff within the histopathology specialty
		
			   1997 2000 
		
		
			 All staff 940 1,160 
			 of which:   
			 Consultants 720 860 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental work force census

Medical Facilities (Sharing)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives have been funded by his Department to promote greater sharing of medical facilities between PCTs and health authorities using the internet.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Through the Department's Project Connect programme all health authorities primary care trusts and general practitioner practices have been given access to NHSnet (and the internet) which enables them to communicate by e-mail and also to access remote applications.
	NHSnet is the national health service's own secure intranet which has guaranteed levels of service quality that are not available on the internet.
	In addition my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has confirmed that all PCTs will have a centrally funded 256,000 fixed link to NHSnet and the internet to enable them to utilise facilities such as teleconferencing and telemedicine.

Health Action Zones

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure for the Camden and Islington health action zones has been since its inception; and what spending is planned for this financial year.

John Hutton: Since its inception in April 1999, Camden and Islington health action zone has received over £5.2 million in direct funding. In 2002–03 the HAZ will receive at least £1.5 million.
	In addition, Camden and Islington health authority received £2.7 million targeted funding for health authorities in HAZs between 1999–2000 and 2000–01. In 2001–02 and for 2002–03 this was subsumed within the health inequalities adjustment, Camden and Islington HA's share of which was £3.1 million and £3.3 million respectively.

Waiting Lists

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time was from seeing a GP on (a) in-patient and (b) out-patient lists for cardiology patients in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the tables. The average waiting time for both people seeking in-patient treatment and those on out-patient lists for cardiology has fallen over the past 12 months.
	
		Estimated average (median) waiting time for first out-patient appointment, cardiology specialty, England -- Trust based
		
			  Quarter Average (median) waiting time (weeks) 
		
		
			 September 2000 8.64 
			 December 2000 8.05 
			 March 2001 7.93 
			 June 2001 7.20 
			 September 2001 7.09 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08
	
		Estimated average (median) waiting time for in-patient treatment, cardiology specialty, England -- Trust based
		
			  Quarter Average (median) waiting time (months) 
		
		
			 September 2000 2.70 
			 December 2000 2.72 
			 March 2001 2.63 
			 June 2001 2.67 
			 September 2001 2.64 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to develop national occupational standards in mental health; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Through the health care national training organisation, Healthwork UK, in conjunction with the training organisation for social services we are developing national occupational standards across all ages in mental health on a United Kingdom wide basis. A functional map of the standards was produced in the workforce action team report published in August 2001 and the work to fully develop the standards is being taken forward with a view to completing the task by March 2003.
	By describing best practice, the aim of the work is to improve the competence of the workforce to provide better services to individuals with mental health needs and their carers.

Care Homes

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care home establishments have (a) closed and (b) opened in East Sussex in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The numbers of residential and nursing care establishment closures in 1999 and 2000, together with the number of new registrations, are presented in the table. Information was first collected in this form for the year ending 31 March 1999. Information for the year ending 31 March 2001 is not yet available.
	
		Table 1: Number of care home establishment closures and new home registrations in East Sussex—Year ending 31 March
		
			  1999 2000 
		
		
			  Number of establishment closures 
			 Residential(9) 48 69 
			 Nursing(10) 5 10 
			
			  Number of new registrations 
			 Residential(9) 44 24 
			 Nursing(10) 4 4 
		
	
	(9) East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove Council
	(10) East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority
	Source:
	Registration and Inspection Survey

Care Homes

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants are available to (a) local authorities and (b) private nursing and residential homes to assist in the provision of additional places in such homes; when the most recent invitations to bid for such grants were issued and to whom; what resources are available for such grants; when bids close and decisions will be made on bids; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We have recently announced that the resources which the Department is making available for social care will be increasing by 6.5 per cent. next year. Local councils will decide how to use these additional resources, most of which can be used for the provision of residential or nursing care. Resources are generally allocated to local councils by formulae rather than on a bidding basis. The Department does not make any grants direct to private sector homes.

Surplus Estate Sales

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's standard guidance for good practice in the advertising and sale of surplus estate.

John Hutton: The Department follows guidance relating to the disposal of surplus property contained in Government Accounting, a copy of which is available in the Library.
	National health service bodies are required to follow guidance on the disposal of surplus property in Estatecode. A copy of the 1995 version, produced by NHS Estates, is in the Library, and an updated version is available in the publications and guidance section under "Downloadable Guidance" at www.nhsestates.gov.uk. A hard copy will be placed in the Library when it is printed.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress and timescale of the PFI scheme for additional doctors' and nurses' accommodation at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Hazel Blears: There is no private finance initiative scheme for additional doctors' and nurses' accommodation at Stoke Mandeville hospital. However, development proposals provide for key-worker accommodation, 27 doctors' houses and, in a separate scheme, the provision of on-call accommodation for junior doctors on the main hospital site. Both these schemes are envisaged to be available for use towards the latter part of 2003.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the legal status is of the land at Stoke Mandeville hospital which was sold to Persimmon Homes in 1998;
	(2)  what the receipts were of the sale in 1998 of land at Stoke Mandeville hospital to Persimmon Homes;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the report commissioned by NHS Estates into the sale in 1998 of land at Stoke Mandeville hospital to Persimmon Homes;
	(4)  if the sale in 1998 by his Department of land at Stoke Mandeville hospital was advertised;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on his plans for the land at Stoke Mandeville hospital which is now in his ownership.

Hazel Blears: Two parcels of land at Stoke Mandeville hospital have been disposed of. One is subject of a number of conditions which have yet to be satisfied, so the amount of the receipts will not be known until all of the conditions have been fulfilled, and the payment due is calculated.
	The strategy for disposal of the site was agreed by the previous Anglia and Oxford regional office of the Department. It was not advertised as it was considered that a negotiated disposal was the best way of obtaining "best value" measured in terms of cash receipts, optimum site uses, the trust's reprovision plans, planning consents, programming and risk transfer.
	The Stoke Mandeville hospital site itself is owned by the Stoke Mandeville National Health Service Trust. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State retains ownership of two parcels of land there. The first is the sports ground for the disabled, to the rear of the main hospital site. This is occupied by the British Wheelchair Foundation under the terms of a long lease. It is intended that the freehold interest of this area will remain with my right hon. Friend for the immediate future.
	The second parcel of land is used for hospital purposes. It will, however, become available for redevelopment, and it is intended that some of the site will be used for additional staff residential accommodation. A review of the NHS trust's long term staff accommodation needs is currently being undertaken. The site will be marketed and disposed of subject to provision by the purchaser of an agreed number of staff residential units.
	NHS Estates carries out performance management reviews of selected land disposals which are in progress or have been completed. In this case the review is not yet complete, and the disposal is subject of on-going negotiations, so it would be premature to respond to the question.

GPs

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what health authority areas in England have recently identified difficulties in recruiting general practitioners;
	(2)  what steps his Department intends to take to increase the supply of general practitioners in England.

John Hutton: The information requested on health authorities that have recently identified difficulties in recruiting general practitioners is not available. Information on vacancies is available in the GP Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy Survey. Copies are available in the Library or at www.doh.gov.uk/stats/ gprrvsurvey2001.htm.
	The NHS Plan includes targets for at least 2,000 extra GPs and 450 extra GP registrars, since increased to 550, by 2004. The latest information available shows that on 30 September 2000 there had been a 9.1 per cent. increase in the number of GP registrars, to 1,659. This is the fourth consecutive annual increase and the largest annual percentage increase for 20 years.
	In order to deliver the recruitment targets a number of initiatives are under way. Various recruitment and retention initiatives are being pursued that are aimed at encouraging qualified GPs into, or return to, practice. They include: the Golden Hello scheme for those GPs taking up their first substantive appointment; the highly successful GP retainer scheme on which are around 1,120 GPs; the introduction of up to 20 days a year of protected time for higher professional training to help ease the transition from training to general practice; improving working lives with new measures for maternity and paternity leave and NHS child care; and the Cabinet Office review aimed to eliminate the amount of non-clinical paperwork and bureaucracy overheads.
	Last month we announced the lifting of the funding bar on recruiting non-European Economic Area doctors to GP registrar posts. To further increase supply, the Home Office's Highly Skilled Migrant Entry Programme now includes provision to facilitate the recruitment and retention of suitably qualified overseas doctors who wish to work as general practitioners for the national health service.

GPs

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the standard of general practitioner surgery; and what percentage have full disabled access and facilities;
	(2)  what funds are available for improvement of (a) general practitioner surgeries and (b) disabled access and facilities at general practitioner surgeries.

John Hutton: A study undertaken by the Valuation Office agency on behalf of the Department indicates that around 82 per cent. of general practitioner premises have good to average disabled access. General practitioners can apply to their primary care trust or group for grants towards the cost of improving access to and within their premises. Alternatively, GPs can owner-occupy or lease modern replacement properties that comply with access and other building standards. Costs are met from a variety of national health service funding sources.

NHS Dentistry

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental practices there are in Stafford constituency; and how many are accepting new NHS patients.

Hazel Blears: There are 16 dental practices in the Stafford constituency. Of these, one is currently accepting all categories of registrations, three will accept exempt adults and children, six will accept children and the remaining six are not currently accepting registrations.
	There is also a Dental Access Centre in Stafford, which is open seven days a week, providing access to dental care for people not registered with a dentist. In addition, there is a Dental Access Centre in Cannock which, although not located within the Stafford constituency, may be appropriate for some people who live on that side of the Stafford constituency, and which is open most week days and some Saturdays.

Ward Improvements

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what examination he has made of the use made by acute hospital trusts of the money given to ward managers for ward improvements.

John Hutton: Ward environment budgets were introduced on 1 October 2000. They give the ward sisters and charge nurses that manage a ward a minimum of £5,000 a year to improve patient care and improve the working lives of staff. An independent MORI telephone survey in mid December 2000 showed over 70 per cent. of ward sisters and charge nurses had been able to improve the ward environment in the two months since the budget had been launched. The majority of purchases provided greater comfort for patients as well as visual improvements to the ward environment.
	In keeping with the stated objective of reducing bureaucracy, no further surveys have been undertaken since that date.

Lung Disease

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a national service framework for lung disease; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: There are currently no plans to establish a National Service Framework for lung disease. The NSF for Older People recognises the importance of respiratory diseases to the health and well being of older people. The NSF provides for a 10-year developing framework for action across health and social care, and within this arthritis and respiratory disease in older people are the next priorities for future work. The focus of this will be older people, but the service model will have implications for and apply to all who need these services, regardless of their age.
	There are a range of Government initiatives already in place which take a preventive approach to lung disease and have long-term objectives to improve treatment and care. These include the investment of £53 million in smoking cessation services. Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been asked to prepare clinical guidelines for the NHS for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer and the management and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Departmental Allowances

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the total annual value of London weightings and London living allowances for her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: As at 30 November 2001, the total value of London weightings and London allowance being paid to Department for Education and Skills staff is £19,760 per annum.
	London weightings and London allowance have been consolidated into the basic pay of staff in the Department for Education and Skills, with the exception of 11 senior civil servants who have opted to receive the allowances separately.

School Funding

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list each initiative by her Department that has attracted additional funding for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools between 1997–98 and 2001–02, indicating the overall budget for each initiative and the number of schools that have participated in each one.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 20 November 2002
	The information requested is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries.

School Funding

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average real term base line funding per pupil was at (a) primary and (b) secondary level in each of year between 1997–98 and 2001–02, excluding additional funding that was made available to all pupils in all schools.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 20 November 2002
	The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		Real terms (2000–01 prices) SSA per pupil -- £
		
			   Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,280 2,980 
			 1998–99 2,340 3,040 
			 1999–2000 2,410 3,080 
			 2000–01 2,470 3,180 
			 2001–02 2,520 3,230 
			
			 Change 240 250

School Funding

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total amount of additional funding made available by the DFEE/DFES per pupil was at (a) primary and (b) secondary level between 1997–98 and 2001–02, excluding amounts made available to all pupils in all schools.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 20 November 2002
	The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		Estimated total additional funding(11) £ per pupil (cash terms)
		
			  Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1997–98 10 10 
			 1998–99 20 20 
			 1999–2000 50 40 
			 2000–01 150 130 
			 2001–02 240 210 
		
	
	(11) Non-SF grants and Standards Fund
	Notes:
	1. All figures rounded to the nearest £10
	2. Grant figures are drawn from the relevant parts of the answer to PQ16607.
	3. Capital funding is excluded from these figures.
	4. Primary and Secondary figures are estimates because a split of grants between sectors is not available; the data are not collected in that way.
	5. Figures for 2001–02 include the Teachers Pay Reform Grant, the actual figures for which will not be known for a while, but Threshold costs for each academic year are expected to be in the region of £450 million.
	6. Figures for 2001–02 include latest figures for Transitional Funding Grant and Transitional Insurance Grant (both former GM schools). These are subject to change.
	7. The pupil numbers used in the calculations are those aged 5–10 (primary) and those aged 11–15 (secondary)—as defined in each year's SSA settlement.

Early Years Excellence

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 345W, on Early Years Excellence, (a) on what date and (b) by what means her Department fulfilled the promise made in the letter of 20 June to Somerford Infant School concerning their expression of interest.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 27 November 2002
	The further guidance setting out criteria and detailed requirements for joining the Early Excellence Centre (EEC) programme was issued on 5 October. This explained that those whose expressions of interest were assessed as category 2 should submit a fresh expression of interest, taking into account the outline feedback provided. Somerford Infant School was assessed as category 2. The Department has not received a further expression of interest from Somerford Infant School. Nevertheless, the Department plans to follow up Somerford's interest along with others in a similar position.

Departmental Underspend

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 81W, on departmental underspend, if she will break down the main projects for which the unspent £1.44 billion available in end-year flexibility from the former Department for Education and Employment had been intended in financial year 2000–01.

Estelle Morris: The Department is voted funds for its programmes rather than individual projects. The End Year Flexibility (EYF) is therefore calculated on the total Departmental Expenditure Limit aggregates.
	£715 million of the available EYF can, however, be analysed into a number of separate elements as follows: £220 million for the European Structural Funds, £106 million for the Employment Opportunities Fund, £87 million for the Capital Modernisation Fund, Non-Discretionary Other (primarily Student Loans) of £172 million, Ofsted £1 million and Sure Start £129 million.
	The remaining £739 million of Discretionary Capital and Other (current) underspends can be analysed against the Departmental objectives as follows: against Objective 1: Early years and schools, were £441 million; Objective 2: Lifelong Learning, £233 million; Objective 3: Helping people without a job into work, £22 million; and on activities supporting all objectives, including administration costs, £43 million.
	During 2001–02 this EYF has been and will be drawn on to fund additional expenditure on Departmental programmes. Following the machinery of government changes the EYF on European Structural Funds and the Employment Opportunities Fund transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions. Discussions are taking place with other Government Departments concerning the amount of Discretionary Other EYF required to support the services transferred.

Departmental Underspend

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 81W, on departmental underspend, on what specific purposes the remaining £530 million left from underspend in 2000–01 will be spent in the current financial year.

Estelle Morris: Of the £530 million, £129 million relates to Sure Start, £1 million to Ofsted, £172 million relates to non-discretionary other (primarily student loans) and £228 million to discretionary capital and other, including administration costs. The funds will be drawn down to support departmental programmes as required to meet priorities and pressures.

Graduate Earnings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information she has collated about changes to average graduate earnings since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Information on estimated average graduate earnings is available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The table shows estimated average gross weekly earnings of graduates with a first degree or above, in full-time employment, taken from the spring quarters of the LFS. The figures show that, in cash terms, estimated average weekly earnings have increased every year between 1997 and 2001.
	
		Average gross weekly earnings for graduates with a first degree or above, in full-time employment
		
			 Year £ 
		
		
			 1997 510 
			 1998 520 
			 1999 540 
			 2000 570 
			 2001 580 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are in cash terms.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, spring quarters, for Great Britain

Student Loans

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of recipients of student loans are in arrears with their repayments.

Margaret Hodge: The only borrowers who were in arrears at the end of 2000–01 were those who had taken out mortgage-style loans which were in place before the introduction of income contingent loans in 1998. At the end of financial year 2000–01 some 13 per cent. of borrowers with student loan accounts in repayment status were in arrears with their repayments. Repayment from borrowers with income contingent loans are collected through the tax system. As these repayments are mostly collected by employers who are legally obliged so to do, the borrower cannot go into arrears.

Pupil Vacancies

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupil vacancies there are in secondary schools in London; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: My Department does not collect this information. The Government believe that decisions concerning the supply of school places are best taken locally by the main partners in the provision of education, who have knowledge of local needs. It is for local education authorities to plan and keep under review the supply of school places and to ensure there is sufficient provision to meet demand. They must publish annually a School Organisation Plan setting out how they plan to deal with any surplus or deficit of places over a five-year rolling period.

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of applications for specialist school status have been successful where the school in question is (a) a grammar school, (b) a comprehensive school and (c) a secondary modern or high school.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Information covering designations from September 1997 on the percentage of successful applicants for specialist school status of grammar, comprehensive and modern schools is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Grammar Comprehensive Modern 
		
		
			 1996–97
			 Applications 13 313 12 
			 Designations 2 71 2 
			 Success Rate (Percentage) 15.4 22.7 16.7 
			 
			 1997–98
			 Applications 7 205 7 
			 Designations 0 80 3 
			 Success Rate (Percentage) 0.0 39.0 42.9 
			 
			 1998–99
			 Applications 4 111 4 
			 Designations 1 75 1 
			 Success Rate (Percentage) 25.0 67.6 25.0 
			 
			 1999–2000
			 Applications 13 250 12 
			 Designations 8 120 4 
			 Success Rate (Percentage) 61.5 48.0 33.3 
			 2000–01
			 Applications 12 314 22 
			 Designations 6 130 14 
			 Success Rate (Percentage) 50.0 41.4 63.6

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list applications for specialist school status which have been made by grammar schools; and what the subject specialism and the outcome of the application was in each case.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 December 2002
	A list of applications to become specialist schools from September 1997 which have been made by grammar schools, together with information about the specialism for which they applied and the outcome of these applications is given in the table.
	
		
			 School LEA Specialism Outcome 
		
		
			 1996–97
			 Burnham Grammar School Buckinghamshire Sports Unsuccessful 
			 Chatham Grammar School for boys Kent Sports Unsuccessful 
			 Bournemouth School Bournemouth Language Unsuccessful 
			 Newport Girls' High School Shropshire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Sir Thomas Rich's School Gloucestershire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Slough Grammar School Berkshire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Aylesbury Grammar School Buckinghamshire Technology Successful 
			 Beaconsfield High School Buckinghamshire Technology Successful 
			 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Cumbria Technology Unsuccessful 
			 Queen Mary's Grammar School Walsall Technology Unsuccessful 
			 
			 1997–98
			 Chatham Grammar School for boys Kent Sports Unsuccessful 
			 Dr. Challoner's High School Buckinghamshire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Newstead Wood School for Girls Bromley Language Unsuccessful 
			 Sir Thomas Rich's School Gloucestershire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Slough Grammar School Berkshire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Cumbria Technology Unsuccessful 
			 St. Anselm's College Wirral Technology Unsuccessful 
			 
			 1998–99
			 Sir Thomas Rich's School Gloucestershire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Slough Grammar School Berkshire Language Unsuccessful 
			 Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls Kent Language Successful 
			 
			 1999–2000
			 King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls Birmingham Arts Unsuccessful 
			 Cotham School Bristol Arts Successful 
			 King Edward VI Aston School Birmingham Sports Successful 
			 Bournemouth School Bournemouth Language Successful 
			 Chatham Grammar School for Boys Medway Language Successful 
			 Sir Thomas Rich's School Gloucestershire Language Successful 
			 St. Anselm's College and Upton Hall School (joint) Wirral Language Unsuccessful 
			 Wirral Grammar School for Girls Wirral Language Successful 
			 Chelmsford County High School for Girls Essex Technology Successful 
			 The King Edward VI Camp Hill School Birmingham Technology Successful 
			 Wallington High School for Girls Sutton, London Borough of Technology Unsuccessful 
			 
			 2000–01
			 Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School Buckinghamshire Arts Unsuccessful 
			 Dr. Challoner's High School Buckinghamshire Sports Successful 
			 Skegness Grammar School Lincolnshire Sports Successful 
			 Aylesbury High School Buckinghamshire Language Successful 
			 Pate's Grammar School Gloucestershire Language Successful 
			 Slough Grammar School Slough Language Unsuccessful 
			 Southend High School for Boys Southend Language Successful 
			 Boston Grammar School Lincolnshire Technology Unsuccessful 
			 John Hampden Grammar School Buckinghamshire Technology Successful 
			 St. Anselm's College Wirral Technology Unsuccessful 
			 Upton Hall School Wirral Technology Unsuccessful 
		
	
	Some schools appear twice in the table. This is where the school has submitted a subsequent application following an unsuccessful bid in a previous year.

Parliamentary Questions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria she uses in determining the briefing information she provides to external organisations about hon. Members when seeking responses to written questions.

Ivan Lewis: There are no set criteria or guidelines used to determine the information provided to external organisations about hon. Members when seeking responses to written questions.
	Common practice is to give the name of the Member together with basic information about other similar questions that they have asked in the past, and any known interest they may have in the subject.

Higher Education

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase participation in higher education.

Margaret Hodge: Our programmes to raise standards in schools and colleges will have a major impact on increasing participation. The Excellence Challenge programme, including the Aim Higher advertising campaign and roadshow, will encourage more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter HE. Foundation degrees will also encourage more people, especially those already in work, to take HE qualifications.

Higher Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils from the Buckingham constituency went on to higher education in each year since 1999.

Margaret Hodge: Figures for the number of school pupils who go on to higher education are not collated centrally on a constituency basis. The latest available figures for England, showing the number of UK domiciled entrants to undergraduate courses over the past five years, are given in the table. The increase in entrants in 1997–98 related partly to changes in the funding arrangements for higher education, with students choosing to enter HE rather than wait until 1998–99. There was a corresponding reduction in 1998–99 before entrant numbers started to increase again in 1999–2000.
	
		UK domiciled entrants to undergraduate courses, England
		
			 Year Entrants(12) 
		
		
			 1996–97 510,000 
			 1997–98 514,500 
			 1998–99 501,500 
			 1999–2000 516,600 
			 2000–01 538,600 
		
	
	(12) As at 1 December

Learning Mentors

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Learning Mentors are working in secondary schools in the constituency of Buckingham.

Stephen Timms: There are currently no Learning Mentors working in schools in the constituency of Buckingham. Our support for Learning Mentors is focused on schools in disadvantaged city authorities as part of the Excellence in Cities (EiC) programme, and upon schools in Excellence Clusters which cover smaller pockets of disadvantage.

Secondary Schools (Hertfordshire)

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the average (a) class size and (b) pupil:teacher ratio in secondary schools in Hertfordshire in each year since 1983.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Average class size and pupil:teacher ratio in maintained secondary schools(13) for Hertfordshire local education authority at January each year 1983 to 2001
		
			  Average class size for  
			  1 teacher classes All classes Pupil:teacher ratio 
		
		
			 2001 21.0 21.1 16.7 
			 2000 20.8 21.1 16.6 
			 1999 20.6 21.2 16.3 
			 1998 20.2 20.5 16.1 
			 1997 20.3 20.9 15.9 
			 1996 20.2 20.8 15.7 
			 1995 20.0 20.6 15.5 
			 1994 20.1 20.6 15.7 
			 1993 19.9 20.4 15.7 
			 1992 19.8 20.4 15.8 
			 1991 19.5 20.4 15.4 
			 1990 19.2 20.1 15.1 
			 1989 19.0 20.3 15.1 
			 1988 19.1 19.8 15.4 
			 1987 19.3 19.7 15.5 
			 1986 19.6 20.4 15.9 
			 1985 19.5 20.1 16.0 
			 1984 19.4 20.1 16.1 
			 1983 19.3 19.9 16.2 
		
	
	(13) Includes middle schools deemed secondary.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Individual Learning Accounts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will fully reimburse colleges which have honoured courses applied for before the deadline for students with individual learning awards.

John Healey: I am now able to confirm that initial payments to the majority of providers who submitted claims up to 21 November was made on 20 December. This will help a significant number of providers meet immediate cash flow needs and, I hope, settle some of the concerns they may have had. We are continuing to work on validating the claims made after 21 November and on the mechanism for dealing with learning booked on the ILA system up to 23 November. Once we are satisfied that eligible learning has taken place in accordance with the rules of the programme, we will then be able to make arrangements for future payment to providers.
	Learning that was not booked onto the ILA system before the programme was closed on 23 November will not be eligible for a discount.

Pupils (Herefordshire)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to bring spending per pupil in Herefordshire closer to the average for the shire counties; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government are currently working up proposals, in partnership with local government and other education interests, for the introduction of a new funding system in 2003–04. We are taking a fresh and objective look at what provision is needed, and at the additional costs some authorities undoubtedly face. We want a system that is both fair and clear.
	The new system will consist of a basic entitlement per primary or secondary school pupil, with enhancements only for authorities where significant deprivation adds to costs, or schools need to pay more to recruit and retain staff.

Special Education Grant

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to pay a special education grant to Herefordshire for the 2002–03 financial year; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: In 2002–03 there is over £1.3 billion extra in Education Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs); a further increase in Standards Fund grant of almost £160 million; and an increase in the direct grant for schools of 2.75 per cent. The scale of these increases means there is less need for special grant support from Government and we have no plans to pay such a grant to Herefordshire for 2002–03.

Urban Regeneration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by her Department; how much each scheme has available to invest; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997 (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils and (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills' programmes contribute to the regeneration of all deprived neighbourhoods by raising the educational attainment, skills and aspirations of children, young people and adults.
	The Department works with other Government Departments to tackle the causes and effects of social exclusion and ensure that all mainstream policies and programmes contribute to urban regeneration.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 20 November 2001, Official Report, columns 253–54W. In this reply I provided levels of funding for the initiatives listed by the Cabinet Office Regional Co-ordination Unit as being the responsibility of the Department for Education and Skills.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans she has to extend the education maintenance allowance to the whole of England;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the working of the education maintenance allowance in (a) Stoke-on- Trent, North and (b) the UK.

Ivan Lewis: Decisions on the future of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) will be taken in the light of findings from the current evaluation of the pilot scheme. Stoke-on-Trent is one of the areas where EMA is being evaluated, although our researchers are publishing their reports for the pilot scheme as a whole, rather than for individual areas.
	As to the UK position, the Scottish Executive are piloting a variant of the EMA scheme in four local authority areas. The Scottish scheme is currently in its third year and will be evaluated in 2002. There is no EMA scheme running in Wales or Northern Ireland.

Sure Start

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she proposes to give commencement approval to the plan submitted to her in July for a Sure Start scheme for Blakelaw and Cowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Sure Start plan for Newcastle Cowgate and Blakelaw was approved on 17 December 2001.

Pupil Exclusion

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were excluded permanently from school in each local authority in Greater London in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number of permanent exclusions from schools(14) in each local education authority area within Greater London
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 England 12,668 12,298 10,438 8,323 
			  
			 London 2,193 2,027 1,782 1,289 
			 Inner London 771 756 639 516 
			 Camden 71 50 32 22 
			 City of London 0 0 0 1 
			 Hackney 41 46 36 31 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 72 52 48 21 
			 Haringey 49 46 43 25 
			 Islington 46 47 36 20 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 24 38 29 24 
			 Lambeth 63 62 40 31 
			 Lewisham 60 77 65 75 
			 Newham 40 54 54 33 
			 Southwark 93 96 108 69 
			 Tower Hamlets 64 49 32 31 
			 Wandsworth 91 76 76 94 
			 Westminster 57 63 40 39 
			  
			 Outer London 1,422 1,271 1,143 773 
			 Barking and Dagenham 89 47 39 31 
			 Barnet 91 77 42 57 
			 Bexley 63 72 61 33 
			 Brent 99 97 77 57 
			 Bromley 99 93 87 28 
			 Croydon 138 108 131 87 
			 Ealing 91 82 74 27 
			 Enfield 102 87 76 73 
			 Greenwich 79 61 79 43 
			 Harrow 59 60 42 39 
			 Havering 56 70 41 34 
			 Hillingdon 68 58 66 47 
			 Hounslow 97 71 67 52 
			 Kingston upon Thames 35 29 25 16 
			 Merton 22 36 24 23 
			 Redbridge 34 35 42 29 
			 Richmond upon Thames 59 54 45 25 
			 Sutton 36 45 39 19 
			 Waltham Forest 105 89 86 53 
		
	
	(14) Includes maintained primary and secondary schools and special schools

Students

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the drop-out rate for first year students at English universities in each of the last three years was; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The latest "Performance Indicators in Higher Education" published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) last month show that the proportion of entrants to full-time first degree courses in 1998–99 who did not continue beyond the first year was 10 per cent., the same proportion as in the two previous academic years. HEFCE's figures indicate that around one fifth of these students will re-enter HE after a year out. Although the UK has the second highest completion rate among OECD countries, the Government are not complacent. HEFCE have been asked to report on the measures being taken to bear down on the drop-out rate. HEFCE have produced an interim report and are expected to produce their complete report shortly.